Empowering Underrepresented Students in Science e-bog

Empowering Underrepresented Students in Science: STEM Students Speak chronicles the best practices of a STEM retention program for underrepresented minority students (URM) at a public university. Written mostly as an engaging series of vignettes, this story invites its audience to examine the "e;underbelly of this successful program. It reveals to readers what lies at the heart of creating and sustaining a STEM retention program that is as inviting as it is vital. The program's practice of reflection helps to build students' self-efficacy and self-understanding. This book addresses the problem of merely throwing resources at a program to have it only achieve mild success. Most STEM retention/support programs offer a litany of "e;things they think are necessary for students, especially traditionally underserved students, to survive in STEM. We contend that our program goes beyond merely throwing money at a need, to critically assessing the need through the lens of inclusive practices. Our program attempts to engage with the whole selves of the students we serve. Proposes a focused, strategic approach to offering support to underrepresented minority (URM) students Shares easily reproducible ways to build a STEM support program to replicate the success at UMASS AP Features an engaging, readable style with real-world applications