BASES Covers all Bases

Michael Page, Zakkoyya Lewis-Trammell, Robin Wilson, Alejandro Covarrubias.

BASES stands for Black Achievement Success and Engagement in Science. The new program is funded by the Kellogg Legacy Project Endowment. Leading the effort is Michael Page, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Chair, and Vice President of the Black Faculty and Staff Association at CPP.

“Our goal is to create a learning community in which African American students will belong to a cohort during their first year,” Page said.

Page says the program grew out of his participation in the College of Science Strategic Leadership Team. One of the goals of the team is to support students by providing high quality curricula and services for a diverse student population.

Previously, Page received an NSF grant that allowed him to work through Science Educational Enhancement Services (SEES) to provide scholarships to students. He led cohorts of students and could see students develop from freshman to graduation. Mentoring, the support of peers, and building a community are some of the elements that make SEES such a successful program. These are elements that will be included in BASES.

Even though the BASES program originates in the College of Science, it’s not limited to science students because the cohort will be built around general education (GE) courses. Page plans on serving 25 students in Fall 2021 and 50 in Spring 2022.

While the program will recruit scholars from already admitted students, ultimately the program will seek to recruit high school students to attend CPP.

Students who participate will receive a scholarship of $750. Their first semester they will take a GE kinesiology course taught by Zakkoyya Lewis-Trammell. The course, KIN 2700, covers stress management, healthy relationships, and physical health.

The second semester students will take a math course with Robin Wilson. Wilson has been active in programs like the Algebra Project which strives to provide equity in math education.  Wilson said, “Math literacy can be the key to unlocking the unlimited potential of disenfranchised communities.” Wilson’s commitment to student success included reserving space in the CPP Cultural Centers where he was a resource to students seeking help with math.

Another component of BASES will be a co-curricular program to connect the BASES scholars to the larger campus community. That aspect is being led by Alejandro Covarrubias who is the Executive Director for Student Inclusion and Belonging.

Supporting student success isn’t new to Page. When he was in high school, over summer break, he got to work in a lab at a children’s hospital. Page said, “I saw the real-world value of science. Coming off that internship, I thought, ‘I like science,’ even though I’d never taken a chemistry class. I went back to HS and took a class.” His high school teacher soon had him teaching other students and pushing them to succeed.

Then in college, Page was offered an internship in a lab. “I wanted to work in developing pharmaceuticals but got bit by the teaching bug. It changed my life wanting to engage in the sciences and then wanting to get students engaged,” he said.

The $250,000 in Kellogg Legacy Project Endowment funds will provide two years of funding. The BASES program’s success will serve as proof of concept and pave the way to acquire grant funding.

A critical part of the program will be peer mentoring and the funding makes it possible to hire student workers to help implement the program.

Staff can help by offering encouragement, and by recommending the program to students.

Faculty who are interested in getting involved are encouraged to contact Michael Page if your department has a GE course and you’d like to have a cohort of BASES scholars.