How Community College Transfer NSF S-STEM Scholars in Engineering Spend Scholarship Funds to Enhance Their Academic Success

Will Tyson; Sanjukta Bhanja; Geeti Anwar; Elise Kuechle

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: STEM and the Two-Year College
Tagged Division: Two-Year College Division (TYCD)
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/47534

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Will Tyson University of South Florida

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Will Tyson is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of South Florida Tampa campus. His research uncovers the connections between educational experiences and career pathways and key life course transitions among students from various backgrounds. He specializes in research that challenges our understanding of interpersonal and structural influences on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and career pathways out of high schools, community colleges, and four-year universities.

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Abstract

This paper presents preliminary findings from a study investigating the impact of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) program on community college transfer students pursuing engineering degrees at a four-year university. S-STEM funds scholarships to support academically talented low-income undergraduate students. In addition, S-STEM facilitates evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities to enhance recruitment, retention, and student success in STEM fields. Four focus groups (16 participants) and 23 interviews with community college transfer S-STEM scholars revealed that S-STEM offers a myriad of financial benefits students believe will lead to a degree and a career as an engineer. Analyses employ qualitative methods such as thematic coding to identify recurring themes, patterns, and key insights from transcribed interviews and focus groups.

S-STEM scholarships provided students with a sense of security and a cushion in case of emergencies or unexpected expenses. The S-STEM scholarship was a turning point at which the increased financial stability allowed students to explore their academic and career interests, study more individually and in study-groups, and devote themselves to their engineering education by regularly meeting with faculty and staff outside the classroom.

Scholarships offset rising gas prices for commuters and allow other students to live close to campus. Students worked fewer hours (often 10 to 20 hours a week) compared to working full-time in community college. Students spent this additional time on campus and pursued internships and career opportunities in their field of study. In effect, S-STEM scholarships enabled students to treat their engineering education as a job, rather than having to work outside of school to pay for their education.

Our findings highlight how S-STEM program elements manifest in the lives of low-income community college transfer engineering students. The findings underscore the need for increased support for students from low-income backgrounds and demonstrate that financial and co-curricular support positions them for greater success. These insights not only inform scholarship programs but should also urge educational institutions to actively provide holistic support for students on their academic and professional journeys.

Citation
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Tyson, W., & Bhanja, S., & Anwar, G., & Kuechle, E. (2024, June), How Community College Transfer NSF S-STEM Scholars in Engineering Spend Scholarship Funds to Enhance Their Academic Success Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47534

TY - CPAPER
AB - This paper presents preliminary findings from a study investigating the impact of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) program on community college transfer students pursuing engineering degrees at a four-year university. S-STEM funds scholarships to support academically talented low-income undergraduate students. In addition, S-STEM facilitates evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities to enhance recruitment, retention, and student success in STEM fields. Four focus groups (16 participants) and 23 interviews with community college transfer S-STEM scholars revealed that S-STEM offers a myriad of financial benefits students believe will lead to a degree and a career as an engineer. Analyses employ qualitative methods such as thematic coding to identify recurring themes, patterns, and key insights from transcribed interviews and focus groups.

S-STEM scholarships provided students with a sense of security and a cushion in case of emergencies or unexpected expenses. The S-STEM scholarship was a turning point at which the increased financial stability allowed students to explore their academic and career interests, study more individually and in study-groups, and devote themselves to their engineering education by regularly meeting with faculty and staff outside the classroom.

Scholarships offset rising gas prices for commuters and allow other students to live close to campus. Students worked fewer hours (often 10 to 20 hours a week) compared to working full-time in community college. Students spent this additional time on campus and pursued internships and career opportunities in their field of study. In effect, S-STEM scholarships enabled students to treat their engineering education as a job, rather than having to work outside of school to pay for their education.

Our findings highlight how S-STEM program elements manifest in the lives of low-income community college transfer engineering students. The findings underscore the need for increased support for students from low-income backgrounds and demonstrate that financial and co-curricular support positions them for greater success. These insights not only inform scholarship programs but should also urge educational institutions to actively provide holistic support for students on their academic and professional journeys.

AU - Will Tyson
AU - Sanjukta Bhanja
AU - Geeti Anwar
AU - Elise Kuechle
CY - Portland, Oregon
DA - 2024/06/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - How Community College Transfer NSF S-STEM Scholars in Engineering Spend Scholarship Funds to Enhance Their Academic Success

UR - https://peer.asee.org/47534
ER -