U-RISE at California State University San Marcos

As a young, rapidly growing campus in North San Diego County, CSUSM is well-positioned to prepare motivated students for graduate studies and research careers. We have specifically developed our program to meet the needs of the student population at CSUSM. The program will use evidence-based practices to achieve the following 9 objectives: 1) to prepare, recruit and select URISE scholars who show significant promise for success; 2) to assure strong academic performance; 3) to enhance quantitative and methodological skills; 4) to enhance scientific communication skills; 5) to engage students in biomedical research; 6) to develop knowledge, skills and persistence necessary to succeed in a doctoral program and beyond; 7) expose students to validated pedagogy to increase persistence in a doctoral program; 8) to prepare competitive applications for graduate school; and 9) to promote wellness and resiliency. The program is two years in length, and we propose to engage 20 undergraduate students in each year of the program. Our major goals, informed by past success rates, are for 90% of CSUSM URISE Scholars to enter the PhD pathway in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, and 75% to enter PhD programs. Taken as a whole, the URISE at CSUSM Program, in concert with a highly supportive campus environment, will prepare students to be thoughtful scientists who have the knowledge, skills, research experience and character that prepare them for doctoral studies in the biomedical and behavioral sciences and that allow them to become future leaders in science and academia.