This presentation will focus on strategies implemented to enhance the academic preparedness of STEM majors at Grambling State University (GSU). These strategies were managed by establishing the Center for Mathematical Achievement in Science & Technology (CMAST) in 2005. The primary goal of CMAST is to manage activities that are designed to increase the number of students graduating with a degree in a STEM area, thereby increasing the diversity of the STEM workforce pipeline. Redesign of introductory mathematics courses was the focus during the first phase of projects implemented. Mathematics was chosen due to the fact that the math skills of students were impacting their success in STEM majors. The restructuring of introductory math courses included the addition of a weekly problem session that engaged students in the solving of problems connected to their desired careers. At the end of a four year period, the number of students able to demonstrate that they had achieved mathematics competencies had increased significantly.The student success rate in Calculus I increased from 21.2% to 52.0%. The second phase of student success projects managed by CMAST had a goal of increasing the retention of STEM majors from the 1st to 2nd year. Aligned with this goal was the redesign of introductory science and technology courses to include more inquiry based learning. A Learning Community (LC) that incorporated Academic Coaches was also implemented. Each Academic Coach was responsible for helping freshman students balance the demands of a rigorous academic program with campus life. A comparison of the performance of students enrolled in a general chemistry course who were a part of the LC, with those who were not, demonstrates the impact of this activity. Eighty percent of students who were a part of the learning community earned a final grade of a C or higher. Only 20% of those students not in the LC performed at this level. The 1st to 2nd year retention rate of STEM majors increased significantly (Figure 1).

Implementation of a STEM student success program to improve the retention and graduation of STEM students

256th National Meeting (2018)

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