Implementation Project: SURE-DID: Strengthening Undergraduate Research and Education via the Development in Discovery

Implementation Projects in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) provide support to design, implement, study, and assess comprehensive institutional efforts to increase the numbers of students and the quality of their preparation by strengthening science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research. This implementation project at Morehouse College aims to strengthen undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education by implementing innovative course-based undergraduate research experiences across participating disciplines, expanding opportunities for authentic undergraduate research, and building institutional capacity to sustain evidence-based instructional practices. Through coordinated faculty development, structured student mentoring, and intentional integration of research throughout the undergraduate curriculum, the project seeks to increase student participation in undergraduate research, strengthen scientific identity and improve persistence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and prepare students for graduate education and careers in the scientific workforce. The goals of the project are to 1) increase the retention of STEM majors from first year to graduation, (2) engage in authentic early research experiences embedded within existing courses, (3) enhance structured mentoring and professional development designed to support academic success and research preparedness, and (4) cultivate faculty tools with strategies to implement effective teaching strategies for student success. The successful completion of this project has the potential to advance knowledge and understanding in STEM education in the areas of degree attainment, as well as student retention and persistence, enhance career readiness, and establish a scalable model for supporting students. Findings from the project are expected to inform institutional practice at Morehouse College and contribute evidence-based guidance for implementing responsive course-based undergraduate research experiences at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other institutions nationally. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.