Bridgewater State University was awarded an NSF�STEP grant in May of 2010. STREAMS, Student Retention Enhancement Across Mathematics and Science, is designed upon best-practice approaches to increase the number of STEM graduates in the departments of biology, chemistry, computer science, geology, and physics. The STREAMS interventions include a summer bridge program, a residential learning community, curricular changes promoting inquiry-based teaching, structured learning assistance in gateway courses, and improved coordination of student transfers. The summer bridge program has a unique structure among programs designed to support underrepresented students in STEM through increased preparation and effective mentoring. The BSU summer bridge offers students a balanced approach to acclimating to college level work through an intense immersive experience in which students stay on campus for three weeks and perform 40 hours of research with faculty and students that is incorporated into their 6 credits of coursework, a writing-intensive first year seminar and integrated mathematics course, during the program. This uncommonly dense program has successfully prepared students for success at our institution, with more than 80% of the students from the first three years remaining in STEM at BSU. Details of the overall program structure and role of the first year seminar to incorporate interdisciplinary research into the coursework will be presented.

Designing a writing intensive chemistry seminar to support an interdisciplinary summer bridge research program

247th National Meeting (2014)

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