OKPVRI and STEM Education in OK

The primary tool for the dissemination of the PV institute will be through publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and proceedings, and related book chapters. Additionally, STEM students will participate in the annual Student Research Colloquium to disseminate research results and goals to a large number of undergraduate students in the surrounding areas. This colloquium will serve both as a dissemination tool to the scientific community as well as the larger community in the area. In addition to seminars and colloquia, our education plan for the next five years involves designing new courses on PV technology at TU, OU and OSU through the PV institute affiliated faculty.

The state of Oklahoma has a significant Native American population and the three participating universities (TU, OU and OSU) are committed to providing the high level of education to this and other minority groups. Also, there are certain educational challenges in a state like Oklahoma which are related to rural schools in sparsely populated areas. It is important to provide the students from rural areas and minority groups with the opportunities equal to those enjoyed by the students leaving in densely populated technologically resourceful metro areas. Recent advancements of cyberinfrastructure provide fascinating opportunities to deliver the best learning experience to K-12 and college students in the most remote locations. For example, the nano characterization facilities of the University of Tulsa , University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University have been already used in high school teacher outreach through the workshops on Nanomaterials for Oklahoma Chemistry and Physics teachers funded in by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation and the Oklahoma NanoNet.

The OKPVRI promotes the mentoring, outreach, and participation of minority and underrepresented students in STEM disciplines, particularly Native Americans. Small regional universities in Oklahoma have a student body that contains a higher proportion of Native American students. Oklahoma ranks 3rd in our Native American population [1] and leads the nation in the number of Native Americans that graduate from college [2]. Almost all these smaller colleges in Oklahoma are ranked in the top 50 in the nation in the number of Native American students enrolled [2]. The University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma have credibility in recruiting Native American students. Recently, through the establishment of a generous endowment fund with the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma for tribal members, native American students will be able to attend the university. TU currently has a native American population of 3.4% [3]. We will target regional colleges and universities for recruitment with large Native American populations which include Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SEOSU) (19.3%), Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) (4.1%), East Central University (15.8%), and Tulsa Community College (10%).

References:

1. Bureau, U.S.C. Resident Populations by Race, Hispanic Origin, and State: 2009. 2010.
2. The Top 100 Bachelor's Degrees Confirred. Diverse Issues in Higher Education, June 9, 2011.
3. CNF established $1M endowment at TU, in Cherokee Phoenix. June 15, 2012.