Building Pathways to Success: Effective Interventions for Undergraduate STEM Student Persistence (Stage 3, 2:35 PM)

• In Event: e-Lightning Ed-Talk Session 4 - Stage 3

Abstract

This paper describes a set of grant-based interventions aimed at improving retention and graduation outcomes for undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors at a state university. These interventions involve undergraduate research opportunities; access to enhanced supports, mentoring, and networking; and faculty professional development on pedagogies that create accessible learning environments for all students. The authors, evaluators of the grant, present student and faculty feedback on the interventions, showing student agency in shaping the programs that directly impact their educational journeys. Faculty feedback also helped refine the interventions. Although final outcomes such as student completion of the baccalaureate await a final year of data collection, the process has proved fruitful in the eyes of students and faculty.

Authors

• Marisa E. Castellano, WestEd

• Andrew Grillo-Hill, WestEd

• Pai-Rou Chen, WestEd