HBCU UP Implementation Project: Data Science with Holistic Engagement and Research Training (DS-HEART)

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 Clark Atlanta University aims to strengthen undergraduate data science education by integrating data science throughout the undergraduate curriculum while expanding coordinated academic and student support services. The project addresses national priorities to increase student retention, persistence, graduation, and workforce readiness in scientific and technical fields by preparing students to apply data-informed approaches across multiple disciplines. The goals of the project are to 1) engage faculty in redesigning existing courses with integrated data science concepts (2) engage students in early research experiences coupled with proactive academic advising and success coaching (3) advance peer and faculty structured mentoring and professional development designed to support research preparedness, and (4) examine the impact of the data-informed approaches as a transformative model. The successful completion of this project has the potential to advance knowledge and understanding in Data Science 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 Clark Atlanta University and will provide evidence-based findings for institutions seeking to broaden participation and improve educational outcomes in the sciences. 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.