Transforming Student Trajectories in STEM With Acceleration and Support

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Five
  In Roundtable Session: Moving on Out: The Experiences of Transfer Students in Higher Education (Table 4)

Abstract

While colleges and universities around the US struggle to graduate enough students with STEM degrees, calculus remains a major barrier for students without strong mathematics backgrounds. This study examines an implementation of the STEM-Core model, which provides an accelerated pathway through developmental math classes to get students calculus ready in one year. Using the theory of whole-person learning and viewing the program as a community of practice we examine course completion data and student interviews to understand how the program is impacting success. Initial results of student success rates in the course sequence show significant positive outcomes. Interviews with students reveal how they felt the program helped them build community and belief in themselves that sustained them through later challenges.

Author

• Megan Selbach-Allen, Stanford University
  Presenting Author