<br/>Willamette University has just completed the third year of a five-year NSF-funded S-STEM grant. In addition to providing scholarships, the project aims 1) to increase the recruitment, retention, sense of belonging, and graduation rates for low-income and underrepresented STEM students, 2) to improve the persistence and performance in STEM barrier courses (including General Chemistry), 3) to ensure students graduate with a personalized post-baccalaureate plan, and 4) to improve the institutional understanding of historically underrepresented STEM students’ needs, in order to determine which evidence-based practices and strategies are best suited to be permanently implemented. We will report outcomes of our efforts to support the first three cohorts of students in all STEM disciplines, with a focus on Chemistry, through scholarships, a STEM Living Learning Community, co-enrollment in first year courses, a “STEMinar” course, targeted academic supports, and strategic mentoring networks. Initial results show that students from underrepresented backgrounds are persisting in STEM majors, being retained at high rates, and serving in significant paid leadership positions throughout the University.

Reducing barriers in chemistry and stem fields at Willamette University: Progress and results from our S-STEM grant from the NSF

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.