The Nuts & Bolts of Building a STEM Learning Community Dr. Loretta Tokoly Dr. Bernadette Sandruck

Requirements:  2.5 GPA  250 word essay  Letter of recommendation  Completion of FAFSA to determine need  Must participate in program activities  Prospective and current students are eligible  While in the program, must maintain full-time status and 2.5 GPA  Selection begins on March 15, 2002 Benefits to students:  Mentoring program  Tutoring and study groups  Small class sizes  Career exploration and planning  Cultural experiences Scholarships range up to $3125 per year National Science Foundation Scholarship Program In the areas of Computer Science, Computer Support Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics For further Information: Attend the 7 p.m. Information Session on Feb. 14, 2002 in the Galleria at HCC or contact us at An information session will be held on February , TDD# , 2

ActivitiesRoomPersonnel Sunday August 11 2:30-4:30 Parents & Students -ice breaker -overview of program -tour of facilities (especially science/computer labs) HR326Dan, Bernie Monday August 12 1:15 Ice Breaker 1:30 – 2:15 Myers- Briggs 2:30 – 4 Library Scavenger Hunt L214Bernie Nina McHale Tuesday August 13 1 – 3 Stress Management / Test Anxiety/Forming a Study Group 3 – 3:30 Using the LAC 3:30 – 4 Meet faculty mentors L214Alyssa P Margaret G. Wednesday August 14 1 – 4 Interpretation of Myers/BriggsL214 Choose oneAttend College Orientation Activities  Wednesday Aug. 21, 6 – 8:45pm  Friday Aug. 23, 9 am – 12:30 Orientation Week Activities for NSF Scholarship Program (Year One) 3

Results of First Scholarship Program Completion Record Summary Active921% Transferred1330% Graduated& Transferred25% Left Program1944% Changed Major37% HCC37% work full-time12% GPA not elig921% no longer finaid need12% Personal issues25% Howard Community College Columbia, MD 4

Results of First Scholarship Program Ethnicity Enrolled Transferred or Active N%N% African American921%333% Asian1126%982% Other25%150% American Indian12%1100% Hispanic49%375% White1228%433% Unknown49%375% women614%350% 5

Second Try => Second Grant Key components Increased scholarship amounts Raised GPA Required a STEM Seminar

Decisions, decisions, decisions…. What needs to be in this seminar? Emphasis on “soft skills” and Team work. 7

Criterion a.College level –Pre-Calculus & Science Prep courses in high school b.Major – Expanded Science -No Health Science majors c.High School or College GPA >2.8 d.Not limited to traditional students e.Required to participate in the 1 credit Human Development seminar each semester Decisions, decisions, decisions…. 8

We advertized High school guidance counselors /College Advisors Science Fair High School Math Competitions On HCC website Letters to applicants in select majors Members of the Rouse Scholars program “Girl Power” an event at Johns Hopkins APL Freshman Focus 9

Topics for the Pilot Year Time Management Myers-Brigg Career Speakers Career investigation Resume Building Mock Interviews Ethics (in the Sciences) How in give presentations 10

Early (Inexpensive) Field Trips Maryland Science Center Fridays after Five National Aquarium also has Fridays after Five 11

Results from Pilot Year’s Efforts Positive feed back from students Students reflected on their majors One student received $10,000 scholarship One moved toward medicine Students who transferred received NSF Scholarships from 4-year institutions. 12

Seminar Themes I. Individual Gifts/ Diversity II. Teamwork III. Preparing for a career IV. What Comes Next 13

Seminar I. Individual Gifts/ Diversity Time management Library Skills – Scholarly vs Popular sources Celebrating Diversity & Odd Man out Theory – Sharing our stories Celebrating what we like in our field 14

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Seminar II. Teamwork Read, “Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon” Bridge project working in teams Small Brainstorming team rated projects Car races or compound machines on display 16

Seminar III Preparing for a career STRONG Interest Inventory type of work within a career Career Speakers Investigate careers Possible professional mentors Prepare resumes Mock Interviews Career Presentation

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Seminar IV. What Comes Next Ethics in the sciences How to WOW your audience (tips on doing a PowerPoint show) Selected topics( e.g. Statistics, Cryptography) Opportunity for a Honors designation for a 200 level Math or Science course Student presentation of a topic in a field related to a current course. 20

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Field Trips A favorite part of the seminar Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab Chesapeake Bay Foundation Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, Laurel NSA and National Cryptographic Museum Maryland Science Center National Aquarium 22

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Our numbers have grown Participation in the Seminars 19 students in Fall 2008 –Spring active students in Fall Interest 48 % N =15 NSF 52 % N = 16

Majors in MAJORS IN 2008

ALL of the students surveyed said that they had more friends here because of the Seminar 85% said they now knew someone who might be a study partner 55% said that it led to their being more committed to their field of study 25% said the seminar led to their taking more classes at HCC Some Successes Results of a survey Feb

Student success 2 of our students were among only 80 students nationally selected to work at a NASA site for 3 days. A Computer Science major took part in a one-to-one mentoring program and internship in Germany summer 2010, she is now at the University of Washington 28

More Successes A Math-Physics major interned 5-10 hours a week for 3 months at Johns Hopkins. A Science major works with HoLLIE, Howard County Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment An Astronomy major has co-written 2 papers and is now attending Villanova University in Astronomy A Physical Science major just obtained a job in a research lab at her 4-year school. 29

Demographics for Fall 2010-Spring

Of the students attending the seminars for 2 or more semesters: 52% have gotten (AA) degrees (13/25) 92% went on to continue in a STEM field (23/25) 31

Additional Benefit Growth in these majors 32 HCC Program/Major Fall 07 Fall 09Fall 11 % Diff Sciences & Sec.Science Educ % Computer Science % Engineering % Mathematics & Sec. Math Educ % Growth in STEM % Overall Growth at HCC %

Future Plans 33  Have already received additional scholarship funds and Internship opportunities  Will apply for additional NSF grants.  Develop an honors program focused on STEM majors Increase entrance requirements Additional social activities Include a Service Learning activity Incorporate a short session Study Abroad activity

Time to Share 34 Please take a few minutes to share with the rest of us the STEM Initiatives on your campus.