RESEARCH INITIATIVE FOR
SCIENTIFIC ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES:
All Departments in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Technology and Engineering) participate in course development and restructuring activities of the program. Students in the College also benefit from seminars, workshops and other enrichment activities. Consequently, every student in the College is considered a RISE Participant. Undergraduate students who receive stipends, participate as mentees in SCORE research laboratories and receive the aforementioned programmatic benefits, are designated as RISE Scholars. Graduate students who are awarded graduate stipends and tuition are designated RISE Fellows.

We have developed a peer mentoring structure where lower level students are mentored by upper level students. Master's-level and Ph.D. students serve as mentors and role models for all undergraduate students. However, graduate students serve a more significant role in mentoring seniors to instill in them a stronger desire to pursue the Ph.D. in the Biomedical Sciences.

Faculty who participate in faculty development activities and serve as mentors are selected from a pool of potential mentors from the participating departments. Research activities in the labs not only enhance faculty knowledge and skills in the Biomedical Sciences, but also the knowledge and skills of the student researchers as well. The results of faculty and student research efforts will be presented at scientific meetings and published in refereed journals.

Student and faculty surveys to assess program effectiveness, student placement, student competency, etc. are being conducted by an evaluator for the duration of program. Additionally, a brochure and this website have been developed to warehouse data and publicize the activities, progress and success of the program.

The JSU-RISE Program is divided into four major components: (1) Undergraduate Development, (2) Graduate Development, (3) Faculty Development, and (4) Institutional Development.