Building a Community in Science and Mathematics

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Core science departments at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), including Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics, are partnering to implement a spectrum of programs to increase the quantity, quality, and diversity of students earning degrees in the life, physical, and mathematical sciences, and who pursue further education and careers in these fields. The program emphasizes a strong peer support system for students through a community of STEM scholars, emphasizing collaboration and teamwork; engages faculty, with project goals tied to departmental goals; provides a multidisciplinary experience for students, including connections to faculty and students in other STEM disciplines and to professionals outside of academia; engages multiple service units of the university to mentor students at appropriate stages in their learning; assists departments to develop research-based pedagogies that enhance retention; and partners with high-tech employers in the Bloomington area to provide internships. A key component of the program is an estimated 120 scholarships provided to participating students. Both formative and summative evaluations of the impact and effectiveness of the program guide program implementation to meet the program's goals to retain and graduate STEM majors. Lessons learned from this program are being shared with other IUB programs and through presentation at national and disciplinary meetings. By retaining college STEM majors and by increasing the pool of students who choose to start in a STEM major, this project is contributing to the numbers, diversity, and preparedness of the nation's science workforce.