STEM Scholars Connect: Coupling Need-based Merit Scholarships with Community Connections to Increase Enrollment and Degree Completion Rates of STEM Students

STEM Scholars Connect是一项综合计划，利用与地区雇主，转学机构，当地学区和社区组织的强大合作关系，提供S-STEM奖学金和学术支持服务。 STEM Scholars Connect为多达60名学术上有才华和经济上处于劣势的STEM学者提供财政支持，使他们能够从事STEM教育全日制和充实活动，旨在提高他们在STEM领域完成副学士学位的比率。智力优势：STEM Scholars Connect项目正在解决国家招聘和留住STEM学科本科生的迫切需要。 这是通过实施最佳实践来实现的，例如同行指导和群体建设活动，提供参与研究的机会，提供包括第一年STEMinar在内的学术支持服务，并与行业专业人士互动，探索STEM职业道路。 STEM Scholars Connect项目为其他社区大学提供了一个模式，以适应和实施，以提高STEM专业学生的毕业率。更广泛的影响：通过鼓励代表性不足的群体，流离失所的工人，难民和经济困难的学生参与，STEM Scholars Connect项目增加了不同学生获得教育和职业机会的机会，从而使STEM劳动力多样化。 传播从该项目中吸取的经验教训将为更好的战略提供信息，以扩大服务不足和贫困学生对STEM学科的参与。

STEM Scholars Connect is a comprehensive program that leverages strong partnerships with regional employers, transfer institutions, the local school district and community-based organizations with S-STEM scholarships and academic support services. STEM Scholars Connect is providing up to 60 academically talented and economically disadvantaged STEM Scholars with financial support that allows them to pursue STEM education full-time and enrichment activities that are designed to increase their rates of completing associate degrees in STEM fields.Intellectual Merit: The STEM Scholars Connect project is addressing the national imperative to recruit and retain undergraduates in STEM disciplines. This is accomplished by implementing best practices, such as peer mentoring and cohort-building activities, providing opportunities to engage in research, offering scholastic support services that include a first-year STEMinar and interacting with industry professionals to explore STEM career pathways. The STEM Scholars Connect project provides a model for other community colleges to adapt and implement to increase graduation rates of students pursuing STEM majors.Broader Impacts: By encouraging the participation of underrepresented groups, displaced workers, refugees and financially disadvantaged students, the STEM Scholars Connect project increases access to educational and professional opportunities for diverse students, thereby diversifying the STEM workforce. Dissemination of lessons learned from this project will inform better strategies for broadening the participation of underserved and underprivileged students in STEM disciplines.