California State University, San Bernardino is a medium-sized public comprehensive university, classified as both a Minority Serving Institution, and a Hispanic Serving institution. In the latest published list in <i>Hispanic Outlook </i>(2012) our campus tied for fourth in the nation, in granting bachelor’s degrees in the physical sciences. Beyond our baseline function, are leveraging multiple sources of external support to continue to enhance our diverse students’ success in STEM. Currently funded projects include a NSF-IUSE project on faculty training in using evidence-based instruction through a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) lens, an NSF CREST II project supporting materials science research through the departments of Chemistry & Physics, and a multi-institutional NSF S-STEM project supporting transfer student success. The presenter is PI of the CREST II and S-STEM projects, as well as a senior investigator on the IUSE project, and will describe how these programs are changing faculty attitudes, and promoting student success. Projects are run by teams of faculty from multiple departments, enhancing institutional change in STEM and Chemistry, while providing the personnel needed to execute them. Mixed methods evaluation and institutional data are used to determine “what works” to foster student belonging and achievement in Chemistry and other STEM disciplines. In particular, inclusive teaching methods, undergraduate research, and appropriate mentoring opportunities have been tied to increased student identities as scientists, which, in turn, lead to greater student retention and higher graduation rates.

External funding as a catalyst for change in chemistry and STEM at CSUSB

ACS Spring 2022

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