Community Resilience

The purpose of the Target Infusion Project: Females Advancing Science & Technology (FAST) will be to enhance the fields of computer science, emergency management technology, meteorology and psychology so that underrepresented undergraduate female students  (UFMS) are highly qualified and prepared to successfully enter graduate programs and/or careers in STEM, specifically, emergency management and/or disaster preparedness. As well as, informing  and transforming the larger academic community about issues that are relevant to STEM careers, emergency management and/or disaster preparedness

The goals of the TIP: FAST are:

• To improve the retention and persistence of Undergraduate Female Minority Students (UFMS) in the fields of computer science, emergency management technology, meteorology and psychology through a deliberate mentoring program.
• To increase students’ knowledge base, research skills, and awareness of emergency management and/or disaster preparedness  by implementing a set of Interprofessional Education (IPE), Service Learning (SL) and Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) activities culminating in the implementation of a Spring Research Symposium.
• To advance the STEM curriculum by creating a Disaster Preparedness & Resilience Course to increase the knowledge base and the awareness of all students in the fields of computer science, emergency management technology, meteorology and psychology with an emphasis on emergency management and/or disaster preparedness.

• To establish a state-of–the-art Disaster Preparedness & Resilience teaching and research laboratory. This aspect of the project will assist in modernizing the infrastructure of JSU and provide undergraduate students and faculty with more opportunities to conduct research.Students will create an emergency preparedness APP for the campus community.

Intellectual Merit: The proposed project will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of highly qualified individuals who have a record of providing academic enrichment, mentorship and career training to undergraduate female minority students (UFMS). The proposed activities can potentially be  used as a model for training undergraduate female minority students (UFMS)  for successful entry into graduate programs and/or careers. This project will help to strengthen the curriculum, research culture and infrastructure of the University. The project’s activities are expected to increase UFMS interest in emergency management and/or disaster preparedness, increase their retention and progression in STEM disciplines, and will serve as a possible replicable model for other institutions that share a similar mission.

Broader Impact: Through the HBCU-UP  TIP program, there will be an increase in the number of highly competent, competitive, globally astute undergraduate female minority students (UFMS) STEM graduates that are prepared to make a positive impact in graduate school and/or the workforce within the state of Mississippi and the nation, especially in the field of emergency management and/or disaster preparedness. The University is well positioned to be the leading producer of minority STEM graduates at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The funds from this program will continue to transform the research and instructional enterprise at JSU. JSU will  disseminate evidence-based best practices and findings on retention, academic engagement, and enhancement of STEM undergraduate majors at workshops/seminars, publications, symposia and professional conference presentations. The benefits to the community will also be great, by hosting classes and outreach events that promote safety and preparedness in vulnerable areas we can educate people directly. There will be opportunities to engage the community and provide them with the tools they need to remain safe before, during and after a natural disaster.