Winston-Salem State University News September 17, 2013 WSSU Welcomes First Science Immersion Program Scholars Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) has welcomed its first group of students into the Provost Scholars Science Immersion Program (SIP) that will support recruitment and retention of students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Begun during the second session of summer school this year, the program includes a Summer Bridge Academy for incoming freshmen students who have an interest in the STEM areas and an academic coaching component that will support them throughout the school year. During the summer session, the seven students had courses in biology, general chemistry, pre-calculus and trigonometry. The classes were supplemented by math and science labs, study skills sessions and field trips. SIP students will continue the courses from the summer during the fall 2013 semester and can remain in the program for two years. "The program is designed to engage incoming students by providing support through positive collaborations with their peers and faculty members," said Dr. Tennille Presley, assistant professor of physics. "The uniqueness of SIP is that students are involved in an extended period in the fundamental courses in STEM as a means of encouraging a deeper understanding of the critical aspects of the subject." In addition to Presley, the other team leaders are Dr. Cheraton Love, freshman class dean, Dr. Jill Keith, department chair of life sciences, and Dr. Denise Johnson, associate professor and coordinator of the Master of Arts in Teaching-Middle Grades program. Students in this first session of the program are Devin Burch, Ariel Dickenson, Jessica Evans, Taran Flowers, Idella Kellam, Kalah Miller and Quartney Ross. Additional professors involved in the summer program were Dr. John Merle, Dr. John Yi and Dr. Frank Ingram with Bobby Garcia and Ronald Patterson, graduate students who are teachers in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System, conducting the math and science labs. The program was developed through grants from the National Science Foundation and the American Association of Colleges and Universities. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.