Virtual Conference
July 26, 2021
July 26, 2021
July 19, 2022
NSF Grantees Poster Session
7
10.18260/1-2--36996
https://peer.asee.org/36996
247
Dr. Kristen Thompson is currently an Associate Professor of Engineering at Loras College. She teaches Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Dynamics Systems, and Introductory Physics courses. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and her B.S. from Michigan Technological University both in Chemical Engineering.
Dr. Danial Neebel, PE is a Professor of engineering and computer science at Loras College. He is currently the program chair for the engineering program and takes part in recruiting students to the College. He also teaches courses and helps with curriculum development in computer science. His research interests include digital system design and testing, computer architecture, and computer science and engineering education.
Robert Keller is a Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Division of Mathematics, Engineering, and Computer Science at Loras College. Dr. Keller has taught at Loras since earning his Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1999 from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Since that time, Dr. Keller’s primary focus has been mathematics education, working with both preservice and practicing teachers. In addition to his role at Loras College, since 2017 he has held the position of Interim Director for the Jacobson Institute for Innovation in Education at Grand View University in Des Moines, IA. In recent years, Dr. Keller has become interested in data science and the use of analytic techniques for gaining insights and improving strategic decision-making. He completed his M.B.A. with an emphasis in Business Analytics in 2018.
There is a strong need to produce more college graduates with STEM degrees when the world copes with ever changing weather patterns, a global pandemic, and other natural and man-made disasters. These graduates also need come from an ever more diverse community to ensure that the needs of all are addressed with the best possible solutions. This project seeks to attract and retain students who have the ability and with the right support structure are fully capable of being successful in a STEM degree and beyond to a STEM career including engineering.
In this poster we showcase successful strategies used in the DuSTEM program at Loras college. This program grants students scholarships and academic support funded by the National Science Foundation as part of the S-STEM program. Thus far, there were 22 students who started in the first year of the program and 14 students who started in the second year. All students are academically high-achieving students who demonstrate financial need. Students major in any STEM discipline, including general engineering. In the first year, the academic supports focus on the transition from high school to college and include seminars and proactive advising. In the second year, the academic supports move improve self-efficacy and does so by incorporating work on a group community-based learning project. Thus far the project has been successful in its goals of increasing enrollment and retention as compared to the control group. In the last year, like all students, this group has been impacted by the SARS-COV2 pandemic and supports within this program have attempted to help these students stay connected to a community despite the necessity for online learning.
Thompson, K. A., & Neebel, D. J., & Keller, R. S. (2021, July), DuSTEM: A Comprehensive Approach to Student Success Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. 10.18260/1-2--36996
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