Barely Scrapes the Surface: Understanding the Unmet Needs of STEM Students at Community College

• In Event: Addressing Essential Needs of College Students

Abstract

Financial barriers have long been one of the most influencing issues for community college students’ persistence and academic progress. Despite that many community colleges take action to support students’ financial needs, there seem to be other forces hindering their college pathways, especially for students in STEM fields. By analyzing interviews with students and staff in a scholarship program at a community college for academically talented, low-income STEM students, this study utilized a case study design to understand the sufficiency of financial support and identify major challenges facing the group of students in their development and future plans. The findings indicated that financial support is essential, but a comprehensive support system including mentoring, instruction, tutoring, and featured activities are equivalently needed.

Authors

• Yunwei Wang, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Xueli Wang, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Brit Wagner, University of Wisconsin - Madison