The Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) at Livingstone College (LC) is an NSF-funded implementation project that seeks to expand the use of the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) model and study its effect in retention, graduation, and graduate school/career choice among underrepresented minority (URM) students. The project aims to:

1) enhance student engagement and research through an innovation ecosystem 2) mitigate barriers to baccalaureate critical transition points through socially cognitive STEM course-based interventions 3) establish a STEM Entrepreneurship Learning Community.

Through course-based undergraduate research experiences, faculty professional development in pedagogical and curricular practices associated with SCCT, holistic learning activities, and the creation of a “Science Mastermind,” the project investigates to what extent and which combination of support structures deepen URM students’ interests in math and science. Further, the project analyzes to what extent do these deeper interests drive self-efficacy and outcome expectations in ways that ultimately yield stronger outcomes, including, helping stakeholders to more rigorously evaluate STEM programs that develop scientific entrepreneurship, the efficacy of the support activities, and the correlation of these activities with student retention and continuity in STEM Innovation and Research.