INSIGHT Into Diversity is proud to present the 2020 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award, an accolade that recognizes unique and innovative efforts for improving access to science, technology, engineering, and math for underrepresented students. These exceptional programs are dedicated to introducing and encouraging students of all ages and at all levels of education to pursue exciting academic opportunities and careers in these vital disciplines. From pipeline programs for pre-K students to research support and career training for those working toward advanced degrees, this year’s award recipients exhibit the dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion that is the spirit of INSIGHT Into Diversity.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the following programs and initiatives have temporarily altered their approaches and adjusted to the needs of remote learners. Every recipient of this prestigious award, however, continues to support society’s most underserved students in academic and extracurricular opportunities in STEM.

100 Women Strong
College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Eastern Washington University
The 100 Women Strong program is dedicated to increasing the representation of women in the fields of computer science and engineering by recruiting, retaining, and rewarding women students who pursue degrees in these areas. Among the program’s offerings are unique scholarships for participants and funding opportunities to attend professional conferences and participate in study abroad. The program also matches each student with an alumna mentor in their discipline and facilitates networking and career opportunities through internship pipelines, corporate partnerships, and more.

American Student Placements and Internships
in Rehabilitation (ASPIRE)
School of Health and Rehabilitation Services
University of Pittsburgh – Human Engineering Research Laboratories
The ASPIRE Research for Undergraduates program is designed to promote greater knowledge and understanding of rehabilitation engineering and the problems faced by individuals with disabilities. More than 1,000 students from multiple STEM disciplines have applied for the program’s 10-week research experience over the past five years. The experience includes workshops led by faculty and staff with disabilities to gain a better understanding of the needs of people that rehabilitation engineering is intended to serve. A key component of the ASPIRE program is that students work closely with end-users — whether that includes people with disabilities or older adults — to design and test devices, systems, and more.

Bridge to Dentistry Pipeline Program
College of Dentistry (COD)
Texas A&M University
The Bridge to Dentistry program raises awareness of the dental profession among underrepresented students in pre-K through college. It consists of several major divisions based on age group. In the first division, COD staff teach pre-K through third grade students about healthcare careers. In later stages of the program, COD hosts field trips and summer enrichment programs for high schoolers. At the college level, Bridge to Dentistry offers several in-depth programs that help underrepresented students and recent graduates prepare for applying to and succeeding in dental school.

Broader Impacts of Geoscience Research (BIGR)
Jackson School of Geosciences (JSG)
The University of Texas at Austin
BIGR focuses on broadening the societal impact of JSG research and teaching by increasing diversity in enrollment and in geosciences careers. The program includes a graduate school preview known as Enhancing Diversity in Geoscience Graduate Education, which brings together diverse undergraduates and graduate faculty. The BIGR program is also expanding the research experiences offered with JSG faculty and research scientists within the Research Traineeship Experience, which allows 25 diverse undergraduates to participate in summer research projects based around annual themes.

Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity, Promoting Opportunities for Diversity in Education and Research (BUILD PODER)
College of Science and Mathematics
California State University Northridge
BUILD PODER was established in 2014 with a grant from the National Institutes of Health. The program trains undergraduates in biomedical research with the goal of diversifying the workforce. It seeks to create a paradigmatic shift in research training and mentoring by reframing and redesigning current approaches through the lens of critical race theory. This model addresses student recruitment starting in high school and focuses on a large pool of first-year, second-year, and transfer students. Within BUILD PODER laboratories, students and faculty engage in research in a cooperative, inclusive environment rather than one based on competition or hierarchy.

Caring for Our Own Program (CO-OP)
College of Nursing
Montana State University
More than 100 Native American and Alaska Native students have completed their nursing degrees in the 20 years of CO-OP’s existence. The program is tailored to those from tribal nations in Montana and across the U.S. who plan to work in rural and tribal communities. CO-OP places equal emphasis on academic, social, and financial support. Academic services include personalized and small-group mentoring and tutoring, an in-depth campus orientation, early interventions, and more. Social support involves formal and informal gatherings with peers, mentors, faculty, alumni, and inspirational speakers. Financial support consists of strong working relationships with public and private funders who provide annual scholarships.

CMU AI4ALL
School of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
The CMU AI4ALL — part of the national AI4ALL organization — addresses the lack of diversity in artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science careers and the resulting bias in AI products that actively harms underrepresented groups. The program is a free summer residential experience for high school juniors and seniors from underserved backgrounds and includes hands-on learning through collaborative research projects that apply AI to real-world problems. Participants also go on field trips to meet with industry leaders and professionals. Evaluation data demonstrate that CMU AI4ALL successfully develops students’ technical skills, increases confidence, nurtures interest in AI, and more.

CityLab
School of Medicine
Boston University
CityLab is a pre-college, biomedical, science outreach program that develops inquiry-based, laboratory-focused curricula for middle and high school students. The program’s materials are designed to encourage girls and underrepresented students to see themselves in STEM careers and have been used to teach more than 100,000. The program also operates the MobileLab, which brings cutting edge science activities to under-resourced schools and community organizations. CityLab hosts on-site programs for field trips as well as summer learning programs that include scholarships for any interested student. A recent analysis found that 78 percent of students who attended the CityLab summer program received STEM degrees.

Collaborative Learning and Integrated Mentoring
in the Biosciences (CLIMB)
University at Buffalo (UB)
CLIMB serves all UB schools that provide degrees in STEM disciplines. Founded at Northwestern University in 2007 and established at UB in 2009, CLIMB focuses on developing leadership skills in diverse science students. Through mentoring, community and networking building, financial support, and more, CLIMB encourages participants to reach their goals. It includes a pipeline program that prepares STEM students for graduate and professional school as well as other divisions for training and supporting underrepresented graduate students and junior faculty.

College of Architecture (CoA) El Paso Program
Texas Tech University
The CoA El Paso program is housed at Texas Tech University.– El Paso. Located on the Mexican border, the CoA El Paso faculty is 80 percent non-White. Faculty and staff are bilingual and work with students to ensure maximum retention through online collaborative platforms, extended office hours, and more. The program’s tailored curriculum includes design studios that focus on regional and binational issues of migration, cultural exchange, ecology, and more. It also includes a week-long tour every semester to visit graduate programs and internationally renowned architectural firms throughout the U.S.

Computing Equity Project (CEP)
College of Computing, Constellations Center for Equity in Computing
Georgia Institute of Technology
The CEP’s mission is to ensure that all students — especially students of color, women, and others in underserved K-12 and postsecondary institutions — have access to quality computer science education. To help overcome the shortage of qualified computer science educators, CEP places research fellows from the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing into area high schools. The fellows support the professional advancement of teachers in these schools in the areas of curriculum development, innovative pedagogical methods, and acquisition of computer science principles and knowledge. CEP is also in the process of developing a sequence of online advanced computing courses with on-demand resources to support educators.

CURE Scholars Program
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)
The first middle school program funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE), UMB’s CURE Scholars Program identifies sixth graders from three West Baltimore middle schools with an interest in science and supports these scholars throughout junior high, high school, and beyond. Through exposure to scientific opportunities, scholars gain presentation experience, academic growth, self-confidence, and the motivation necessary to succeed. An essential part of the program is the support from parents and families, schools, mentors, and community partners — all of whom work together to provide a holistic support network for CURE scholars throughout their academic careers.

Discover-Explore-Create Technology Outreach Program for Girls (DECtech)
Colorado School of Mines
The DECtech team consists of 25 women student volunteers who encourage girls in third grade through college to pursue STEM careers. This effort includes an on-campus, after-school program that introduces 250 girls in third through ninth grade to STEM subjects via hands-on games and activities. DECtech team members also assist in local high school classrooms, STEM fairs, and other opportunities where they serve as role models for girls in the community. At the college level, the team has formed a strong peer mentoring community and engages with local STEM professionals.

Department of Biology Lab Sections and Instructors
Department of Biology
Providence College (PC)
The PC biology department uses its lab sections to promote the recruitment and retention of women, students of color, and first-generation students. With support from the department chair, lab instructors use external grants to create paid summer research fellowships for students, allowing them to explore different types of biological research. They also advocate for and teach summer and winter session bridge courses to help students who did not receive ample science education in high school but who are interested in pursuing science-related degrees. In addition, laboratory instructors regularly seek funding for underrepresented students to have study abroad science course experiences.

Department of Physics
College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
California State University San Marcos (CSUSM)
The physics department at CSUSM is sixth in the nation among undergraduate-only programs in awarding Bachelor of Science in physics degrees to students from underrepresented groups. The department recently created a new degree in electrical engineering that was made possible through partnerships with local industries and a U.S. Department of Education grant for developing STEM education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions. CSUSM’s physics department also participates in federal diversity programs such as TRIO McNair Scholars and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation.

Einstein Enrichment Program (EEP)
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
EEP is a pipeline program aimed at middle school, high school, and college students who are underrepresented in medicine. The program includes a professional speaker series, opportunities to conduct research, lessons in college-level writing, and hands-on workshops in skills such as suturing and taking vitals. Medical students work closely with the middle and high schoolers who participate in EEP as they conduct service learning, develop presentations on research projects, and more. In addition, an EEP vocational counselor leads grade-specific sessions on preparing and applying for college.

Experiential Learning for Veterans in Assistive Technology and Engineering (ELeVATE)
Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL)
University of Pittsburgh
ELeVATE’s mission is to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation rates for wounded, injured, and ill veterans in engineering technology. The program provides a solid foundation of academic preparation, rehabilitation counseling, community reintegration, and other vital support services for veterans with disabilities. It includes pre-college workshops for teaching 21st century skills, assistance with exploring college and career opportunities, and a 10-week paid research experience. ELeVATE members stay connected to their cohort through study groups and are assigned three different mentors — a peer, a local veteran, and a faculty member or graduate student — to guide them on their path to academic and career success.

Getting You into Indiana University (GU2IU) Recruitment Program
The University Graduate School
Indiana University (IU)
GU2IU brings as many as 75 underrepresented prospective graduate students to campus each year, 70 percent of whom are interested in pursuing an advanced STEM degree. The program recruits individuals from across the U.S. and especially targets those who have previously participated in a federally funded research project for underrepresented students such as the TRIO McNair Scholars program. All expenses for the three-day GU2IU event, including travel, are paid. Once on campus, attendees take part in group activities and meet with administrators, faculty, staff, and student representatives. The final day of GU2IU teaches participants how to prepare for applying to and thriving in graduate school.

Girls in Engineering and Technology Day
College of Engineering and Computer Science
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)
More than 100 girls from high schools in the New York area visited NYIT for the 2019 Girls in Engineering and Technology Day. The event allowed girls who had no prior experience with advanced STEM skills to learn about software development, drones, and cyber security. Attendees were able to interact with industry representatives from leading companies such as IBM as well as student volunteers. The day also featured keynote speakers who delivered inspiring talks about their experiences as leaders in tech and other STEM fields.

GirlsDesign PDX
BRIC Architecture Inc. and Girls Build PDX
BRIC Architecture, Inc. — Oregon’s largest majority women-owned architecture firm — and the nonprofit Girls Build PDX worked in partnership to develop GirlsDesign PDX, an eight-week design camp for girls ages 11-14 to introduce them to architecture and construction. The program recruits girls from local schools and offers scholarships for families in need, with a specific program for girls in the foster care system. The camp teaches participants the basics of design and construction, while returning campers learn more advanced skills such as digital design and drafting.

Greer Scholars
PC College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Lehigh University
Initiated in 2013, Greer Scholars is a donor-funded program that offers financial aid for African American, Latinx, and Native Americans in engineering. The program provides networking and mentoring opportunities with peers, faculty, and outside speakers as well as ongoing support for scholars who are involved in undergraduate research. Greer Scholars meets at least once a month for academic, professional development, and socializing activities. Over the course of the program, 70 percent of scholars succeeded in graduating with an engineering degree in four years, with the remaining 30 percent graduating within nine semesters.

Health in Progress (HIP)
University of Akron, Kent State University, and Akron Public Schools
In 2000, a group of Akron-area hospitals, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions formed the HIP Initiative to help eliminate the achievement gap and increase diverse representation in healthcare professions. The initiative includes career exploration opportunities such as hospital visitation days, in which more than 1,700 eighth grade students have participated. More than 500 students have taken part in HIP’s summer program, a week-long opportunity to experience life on a college campus with an emphasis on postsecondary education for healthcare careers.

Health Professions Recruitment Exposure Program (HPREP)
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Nearly 180 local high school students are invited to participate in the five-week HPREP program. On the first day of HPREP, students attend a college fair with more than 20 higher education institutions. Each week of the program features workshops covering science, medical, and health and wellness topics. The workshops are engaging and include hands-on experiments and activities. They are hosted by graduate school, medical school, and school of health professions students. The program is also an opportunity for participants to meet a variety of underrepresented professionals in the health and science fields.

High Intensity Student Engagement Model (HI-STEM)
Harford Community College (HCC)
The HI-STEM project creates a cohort-based learning community among select students by bringing them and faculty mentors together for presentations and discussions on relevant STEM careers through monthly seminars. Students are recruited at college admissions events and during specific STEM Connection Days, when high schoolers, teachers, and counselors come to the HCC campus and participate in laboratory engagement activities to learn more about STEM programs. HI-STEM is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

HMS MEDscience
Harvard Medical School (HMS)
The MEDscience program aspires to close the STEM inspiration and achievement gap in Boston Public Schools (BPS). It consists of a 16-week advanced biology course featuring weekly hands-on learning and simulations at the HMS campus as well as guest speakers who teach students about career development and clinical skills training. The program’s approach to learning is based on the observation that some of the most powerful learning happens in the real world. MEDscience has grown from serving a single school to more than 30 area high schools. Nearly 55 percent of participants are women and 65 percent are Black or Latinx.

iCamp Summer Academy
College of Arts and Humanities
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU)
The iCamp Summer Media Academy at WCU offers 11th and 12th grade students from the School District of Philadelphia an opportunity to develop digital production skills while working with faculty, industry leaders, and community resources in a college environment. Participants in the week-long program partner with WCU faculty and undergraduate student mentors to create games, websites, and audio and video projects. Through the process of developing games and other media, students are able to gain college-level STEM knowledge, increase their technical fluency and computational thinking abilities, and enhance their reading and writing skills.

Inclusive Excellence & Community Engagement Program (IECE)
College of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Cincinnati
IECE is a multifaceted retention and support program that has been in place for more than 32 years. It strives to empower individuals to achieve their highest potential by offering programs, services, and scholarships that enhance learning and lead to their success. IECE engages Cincinnati youth and families in STEM activities by promoting engineering and the sciences. The community engagement activities within the college establish partnerships and pathways with local schools for students to be exposed to, prepared for, and excited about exploring a major and a career in a STEM field.

Introduce a Girl to Engineering (IG2E)
College of Engineering
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
IG2E brings underrepresented, middle school, female students to campus for a day of hands-on engineering education. Women undergraduate volunteers lead small group activities that introduce participants to electrical, biomechanical, and other engineering fields. Specific activities from IG2E 2019 included working with a tendon-actuated robotic hand, creating a simple circuit to light up an LED for a 3D printed project, and producing a metal molecule from crafts supplies. Nearly 90 percent of participants are Hispanic or Latinx, and since the program’s inception in 2015, more than 1,000 students have attended IG2E.

Karsh STEM Scholars Program (KSSP)
Howard University (HU)
The mission of the KSSP is to increase the number of underrepresented STEM students in the PhD or combined MD/PhD programs by providing a positive mentoring environment for first-year college students, rigorous coursework, and immersion experiences. Each year, the program attracts hundreds of competitive high school students, and those who are eligible participants are required to take the HU Math Placement Examination. KSSP offers weekly forums, study groups, and other group activities. Students are required to stay in the same residence halls through their first year and live on campus for the rest of their tenure at HU.

Latin@s Gaining Access to Networks for Advancement in Science (L@s GANAS)
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Medicine, and College of Pharmacy
University of Illinois at Chicago
L@s GANAS is a culturally enhanced program for Latinx STEM students that promotes improved academic performance and retention by expanding social capital through high-impact practices. These include transition coaching from local targeted high schools and community colleges, parental-family engagement, peer mentoring, cultural dialogues, undergraduate research experience, networking opportunities, improved oral and written communication skills, and financial support. L@s GANAS participants develop greater social and cultural interactions across campus, an improved self-image and sense of belonging, and long-term relationships that extend beyond their college career as they develop into “citizen scientists.”

Lab 4 Kids
College of Arts and Sciences
Adelphi University
Established in 2005, Lab 4 Kids brings approximately 30 ninth graders from nearby high schools to campus for a day of physics experiments under the guidance of Adelphi Physics Club members — many of whom are underrepresented in higher education and STEM.
Participants are divided into groups, with each one conducting experiments and exploring topics ranging from optics and spectroscopy to the construction of simple circuits and motors. Over the years, Lab 4 Kids has served hundreds from local schools and created an effective educational pipeline for students of color eager to pursue college-level STEM studies.

McNair Scholars Program
College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Kean University
The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, also known as the McNair Scholars program, is a federal TRIO program funded at 187 institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. The goal of the McNair Scholars Program is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.

MedAchieve Program
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Harlem
MedAchieve, launched in 2012, is a natural extension of the college’s mission statement to focus on connecting with underrepresented students in underserved communities such as Harlem. High school students who enroll are designated to the MedStart (year 1) or MedExcel (year 2) track. Among the program’s many offerings are lectures and hands-on laboratory experiences, and each MedAchieve member is assigned a medical student mentor who helps them navigate the program’s curriculum. MedAchieve also organizes immersive experiences such as a recent “pandemic day,” a medical simulation event that allowed students to use critical thinking skills in deciphering between the symptoms of COVID-19 and other diseases.

Miami University Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
College of Arts and Science and College of Engineering and Computing
Miami University
The university’s LSAMP program, which bridges the College of Arts and Science and the College of Engineering and Computing, is in its sixth year and has been supported by two consecutive NSF LSAMP grants. During the academic year, approximately 100 students are involved in LSAMP programming, which includes monthly meetings, a weekly study table session, free tutoring, and an optional first-year course on research in science and engineering. LSAMP also hosts an Early Arrivals Program for incoming students who are underrepresented in STEM that includes a research project based on a real problem from sponsoring companies such as Siemens AG and Eli Lilly and Company.

Middle School Summer Academy: Technology and Engineering
College of Engineering and Computer Sciences
New York Institute of Technology
Established in 2019, this week-long program gives middle school students the opportunity to learn and experiment with design software, fabrication equipment, and programming software. Thanks to a Voya Foundation grant, it is free to participants, most of whom come from low-income families. Recruitment efforts focus on students from Title I schools in New York City and Long Island. This year, the academy took place online; it was renamed the Summer Middle School Maker Academy to focus on STEAM topics.

MIT Online Science Technology and Engineering Community (MOSTEC)
School of Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT’s School of Engineering has constructed a six-month online STEM enrichment program for rising high school seniors across the country to build transferable academic skills. Students participate in rigorous online project-based and “flipped classroom” STEM courses while being offered near-peer online mentors, online alumni mentorship, online office hours, and check-ins using individualized feedback practices. MOSTEC offers a one-week, on-campus experience midway through the program that is integrated with the online component where students present their projects, attend in-person workshops, and participate in community-building events. MOSTEC alumni have matriculated to top colleges across the country, including Harvard, Princeton, Brown, and Stanford.

Molding Identity and Raising Retention through Opportunities for Reflection in STEM (MIRRORS)
College of Arts and Sciences
John Carroll University (JCU)
In 2018, JCU received an NSF Scholarships in STEM grant to support the MIRRORS program, which is designed to develop students’ social well-being, academic success, and vocational self-efficacy. Through the MIRRORS program, students regularly participate in reflective activities that help them consider their academic and personal trajectory. The meetings create strong bonds between participants and mentors so that students come to see faculty mentors as fundamental to academic planning, staff advisers as conduits to campus resources, and peer mentors as confidants. JCU currently has two MIRRORS cohorts and plans to recruit a third in the 2021-2022 academic year.

NCCU FAB Lab
North Carolina Central University (NCCU)
The FAB Lab at NCCU — a historically Black institution — is a prototyping workspace focused on engaging a critical mass of underserved and underrepresented populations in computation and digital fabrication. With the help of sponsors, the FAB Lab supports computer-aided design and 3D printing experience in area schools. It also offers on-campus experiences for community members and K-12 students, such as tours with hands-on activities, design competitions, and more. FAB Lab hosts a summer internship program for middle schoolers and the Capstone program, which works in conjunction with the business school to support NCCU student design projects.

Plains Bridges to the Baccalaureate (PBB program)
Department of Environmental Toxicology
Texas Tech University (TTU)
TTU and South Plains College established the PBB program in 2008 with the ultimate goal of increasing the diversity of the biomedical and behavioral sciences. The program primarily supports the retention of underrepresented students at local community colleges and their transition to TTU or another four-year institution. PBB offers workshops and opportunities focused on three components: providing the tools to become a successful scientist, providing the tools to succeed in higher education, and increasing awareness of the need for diversity in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. Out of 118 participants thus far, 93 percent of PBB members have transferred to TTU.

Pre-Sophomore Summer Program in Computer Science
Computer and Information Science (CIS)
Cornell University
This four-week residential program is for incoming students.— primarily those who are from underrepresented ethnic and racial backgrounds or first generation — who plan to major in computer science. The all-expenses-paid experience includes core technical disciplinary content and exposes students to the ways in which computer science research can benefit communities and solve local and global problems. It also offers networking opportunities and a career exploration trip to visit the offices of top tech companies in New York City.

Rapidly Accelerated Research Experience (RARE) Program
College of Arts and Sciences and the PC Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Lehigh University
RARE is a pre-admission-to-graduation STEM immersion program. Cohort members arrive on campus prior to regular orientation and are housed together in a residential community alongside other students interested in STEM. One unique aspect of the program is the use of advising teams composed of faculty advisers and peer mentors that assist with professional development and career guidance. Other supports include a summer stipend for rising first-year students, with the goal of securing summer research placements that include stipends in subsequent years.

Riverside Bridges to Baccalaureate Program (Riverside B2B)
University of California, Riverside (UCR)
School of Medicine
Riverside B2B was established between the UCR School of Medicine and Riverside City College (RCC) to facilitate the transfer of students from RCC — a two-year institution — into STEM majors at UCR. Both RCC and UCR are federally designated Hispanic Serving Institutions. The program was launched in 2017 by a 5-year, $816,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. Among B2B’s innovative opportunities are paid research internships for RCC students starting in their second year, which continue into an intensive research program over the summer and into their first year at UCR.

Roots to Wings (RTW)
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU)
RTW is a co-mentoring health science education pathway program that encourages young American Indian-American Native and Latinx students on the homelands of the Yakama Nation to pursue STEM and health-related careers. In turn, it exposes PNWU students to the values, traditions, and medical needs of diverse populations while fostering their desire to work in rural and underserved communities. More than 400 middle and high schoolers from these communities in Washington State have participated in RTW since 2014. The program has received national recognition as an example of effective co-mentoring and cultural sharing within the context of health.

SNHU Science for All: Environmental Science
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
SNHU’s Science for All: Environmental Science program centers on providing an online degree in environmental science that includes hands-on and real-world science opportunities and experiences for students. Its aim is to reduce and minimize geographic barriers to program access, thus reaching learners that many location-based programs are not able to serve. Features include virtual access to a campus outdoor learning lab, experiential learning opportunities for remote learners, and out-of-class experiences such as service learning and community-based science opportunities. The graduation rate for women — who comprise more than half of enrollment — recently increased to 84 percent, and retention and graduation rates for Black and Latinx students have grown significantly in recent years.

STEM 4 ALL
Millard Oakley STEM Center
Tennessee Tech University
STEM 4 ALL is an inclusive program for K-12 students as well as adults with intellectual disabilities. Tennessee Tech faculty, STEM majors, and teacher candidates co-plan and co-teach STEM activities for participants and their families. STEM 4 ALL recruits these participants by reaching out directly to classrooms who serve students with disabilities, sending direct mailers to students’ homes, and broadcasting the program on social media outlets. The overall goal of STEM 4 ALL is to motivate this underserved student population to learn more about and pursue STEM disciplines.

STEM Diversity Programs
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
University at Buffalo (UB)
The Office of Diversity Programs (ODP) was created in 2016 to encourage underrepresented students at UB to succeed in STEM disciplines. The office is responsible for administering Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation grants, which provide students with various support services and enrichment activities, including paid research internships. In addition, the ODP offers The Men of Color in STEM program for underrepresented male students to discuss academics, careers, and other relevant topics, as well as the STEMinism program for women of color to connect and engage in social activities, professional development, and more.

STEM Outreach Workshop Initiative
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC)
The STEM Outreach Workshop Initiative, operated by the HVCC Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is an extended bridge pipeline initiative. Its efforts include engaging rising fifth graders, middle school, and high school students through a free online STEM program on Saturdays over summer break. To address the digital divide, HVCC partnered with Siena College’s Urban Scholars program to supply computers for participants in need. As HVCC is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, the program supports SUNY’s PRODiG initiative for recruiting and supporting diverse faculty and women in STEM.

STEM to Stern Program
Bellevue College
Now in its 12th year at Bellevue College, the STEM to Stern program identifies incoming, high-potential students interested in STEM fields and recruits them to become part of a three-term cohort class in their first and second years. As part of the program, participants are connected with industry scientists and mentors for career planning advice as well as research and communication skills development. STEM to Stern also engages students in real-world inquiry projects as early as possible in their studies to help maintain their interest in STEM career pathways.

STEM Transformation Institute
Florida International University (FIU)
FIU is the largest producer of STEM degrees for Hispanics in the U.S. Its STEM Transformation Institute is leading initiatives to improve recruitment and retention of other underrepresented groups, including women. Researchers in the institute are redesigning STEM education to improve outcomes, expand opportunities, and create pathways to STEM careers for these underrepresented populations. Specific areas of research include increasing the number of STEM teachers and reinventing the STEM classroom by replacing lecture halls with active learning spaces. The institute has also launched an innovative program to help cultivate as many as 10,000 new female physics majors.

Scholars Academy (SA)
College of Sciences and Technology
University of Houston-Downtown
SA is a competitive academic mentoring and scholarship program for undergraduates. First launched in 1999 with a cohort of 19 members, the program now has nearly 200 active participants and more than 1,100 alumni. Members take a freshman seminar unique to SA and have access to experiences such as field trips to graduate programs, industry sites, state capitol buildings, cultural landmarks, and more. The program provides a support system that consists of mentoring from PhDs and upper-division peers. Participants are also offered the opportunity to develop their leadership skills through service learning, community engagement, and more.

Science on Wheels Peer Mentoring Educational Center (SONW)
University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus (UPRM)
SONW increases access to quality STEM education and research for K-12 teachers and students in diverse Hispanic communities. It involves a number of interactive events for K-12 schools, including Science Shows featuring demonstrations and hands-on experiments led by UPRM students. SONW also hosts residential summer workshops and Saturday Academies for K-12 teachers, with the goal of transforming pre-college STEM curricula. Since its launch in 1991, it has supported numerous classroom intervention and research projects that have improved STEM education for thousands of students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Science Teacher Access to Resources at Southwestern (STARS) Program
School of Biomedical Sciences
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The STARS program provides educational outreach and professional development for science teachers in North Texas. It also offers STEM engagement opportunities for middle and high school students interested in exploring careers in biomedicine. STARS promotes the inclusion of diverse students by maintaining relationships with school districts that serve underrepresented populations, such as Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Irving, Texas. Specific offerings include basic science symposia presented by medical faculty as well as student clubs, camps, and field trips to the medical center. Teachers and rising high school seniors also have opportunities to participate in eight-week summer research projects.

Summer Research Institute (SRI)
College of Science, Technology, and Health
St. Thomas University (STU)
SRI brings together STU undergraduate and graduate students and high school students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) to conduct research in the fields of biology, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science. Led by STU science faculty, the research also includes outside collaboration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Florida International University, University of Miami, and Miami-Dade College. In addition to collaborative research opportunities, SRI faculty and students host outreach events for MDCPS students that include hands-on microbiology, plant biology, and computer science labs.

Technology, Engineering, Environment, Math and Science (T.E.E.M.S.) AmeriCorps Program
College of Education and Human Development
Georgia State University
T.E.E.M.S. members receive teaching experience through a service year during which they apply their expertise in the form of supplemental instruction and support in the areas of math and science. Members are either actively pursuing or have recently completed a STEM degree. Most are recruited from metro Atlanta colleges, and 90 percent are Black women. They receive training in culturally relevant teaching, best practices in supplemental instruction, the landscape of urban education, career development, and more. As members of the federal AmeriCorps program, each receives financial resources such as student loan forbearance and childcare benefits during their year of service as well as an award for postsecondary expenses upon completing the program.

Texas Tech University/Lubbock Independent School District Middle School STEM Challenge
STEM Center for Outreach, Research & Education (STEM CORE)
Texas Tech University (TTU)
The STEM Challenge was created through a partnership between TTU and the Lubbock Independent School District (LISD). It teams middle schoolers and teachers with diverse TTU students for a week-long competition to design and pilot a vehicle. The challenge began seven years ago with cardboard and duct tape boats and has evolved to include power tools and crowds of cheering fans, including coverage on regional and national television. LISD is a diverse district with 59 percent Hispanic students, 14 percent African American, and 72 percent economically disadvantaged. As such, more than half of the middle school students who compete in the challenge have been ethnically or racially underrepresented.

The Center for Advanced STEM Education (CASE)
College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, College of Professional Studies, and School of Education
Metropolitan State University of Denver
CASE houses seven programs that promote excellence, encourage diversity, and enhance equity in STEM. These include the Colorado Wyoming Alliance for Minority Participation, a financial support initiative for underrepresented women pursuing degrees in STEM; Noyce U-STEM, which increases STEM educator diversity by providing transformative pre-service clinical experiences, professional development, and recruitment services; MULTI, which aids educators in understanding and promoting practices that increase student motivation to pursue STEM careers; an annual Women in STEM conference; and summer programs for middle and high school students interested in developing their knowledge of STEM subjects.

The Office of Inclusive Excellence
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Syracuse University
The Office of Inclusive Excellence oversees two dynamic initiatives that support and encourage underrepresented students to pursue STEM careers: the Ambassador Scholar Program and the Engineering and College Science (ECS) Leadership Dialogue Circles. Members of the Ambassador Scholar Program have access to specialized career workshops, a summer retreat with faculty, paid internships, and more. The ECS Leadership Dialogue Circles focuses on addressing the challenging issues of race, ethnicity, and gender by bringing people together in small groups to foster mutual understanding and trust. Students who participate learn new ways to work together and solve problems in addition to becoming more competitive candidates in the global workforce.

The Summer Program for Future Doctors (SPFD)
The Brody School of Medicine
East Carolina University
SPFD is an eight-week intensive summer pipeline program that combines foundational sciences, physician shadowing, and clinical skills experience for undergraduate juniors and seniors as well as post-baccalaureate students interested in attending medical school. Participants in the program are not only exposed to the pedagogical styles of medical school through structured coursework in the areas of anatomical sciences, physiology, neuroscience, and biochemistry, but they also receive counseling from the Office of Admissions through sessions focused on addressing questions related to medical school applications. From 2012 to 2019, 131 SFPD students have applied to medical school with all but 26 admitted, equating to an 80.5 percent success rate. From that group, 47 percent were women and 21 percent were African American.

The UCSC STEM-Diversity Program
Baskin School of Engineering and Division of Physical and Biological Sciences
University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)
The STEM Diversity Programs at UCSC include unique support programs for a broad spectrum of students, whether they be in the process of transferring from a community college or preparing for a PhD program. Many of these programs provide underrepresented and first-generation students with research experiences that are a prerequisite for entry into advanced training. They include the STEM Diversity Office, which facilitates training and workshops on laboratory research and all aspects of scientific approaches, including reading journal articles, presenting research in talks, writing abstracts and grant proposals, and more.

This is How We “Role”
College of Veterinary Medicine (PVM)
Purdue University (PU)
This is How We “Role” is a national role-modeling program with the long-term goal of diversifying the veterinary workforce. Veterinary professionals and students teach children about field-related basic science and careers as well as educate them on how veterinarians can prevent and treat health conditions that affect both people and their animals. PVM delivers the program through a partnership with the Hanna Community Center, where the This is How We “Role” curriculum is taught in after-school programs and summer camps to children under 12 years of age who come from low-income families. The program is also offered nationwide through U.S. veterinary medicine colleges and their community partners.

Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program for Premedical Students (T-SRF)
Weill Cornell Medicine College (WCM)
The T-SRF, started in 1969, gives 25 premed students deeper insights into the field of medicine, including issues that greatly affect the health of traditionally underserved groups. By participating in laboratory or clinical research, students learn how to pursue a specific research problem under the supervision of a faculty member, providing an early education into basic research techniques that could be applicable to any area of medicine. Students also attend lectures by underrepresented physicians on topics related to providing care to underserved communities, shadow physicians for exposure to the clinical facets of medicine, and receive information and financial counseling related to the medical school admissions process.

School of Data Science (SDS)
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
(UNC Charlotte)
The UNC Charlotte SDS evolved from a data science initiative to become an interdisciplinary effort that prioritizes the inclusion of students from all backgrounds who are interested in applying data science to their fields. Among its diversity efforts is the Women in Data Science Charlotte conference, which attracts more than 500 attendees annually. In addition, SDS’ two graduate programs have achieved an enrollment that is 45 percent women. Graduate students in the school — who are often recruited from historically Black colleges and universities — complete internships with industry partners, which provide mentorship opportunities from subject matter experts and frequently lead to full-time positions.

Virginia Wesleyan Environmental Institute (VWEI) Summer Scholars
Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU)
VWEI Summer Scholars is a week-long residential STEM program for rising ninth-grade girls with an initial interest in environmental science. VWEI partners with K-12 private and public school administrators across the region to recruit high-performing students who identify as female and are typically unable to afford similar educational programs. Through a mentor-mentee structure and an intensive higher education STEM context, the program offers experiences that address cultural and identity-related barriers and provides solutions related to women’s persistence in STEM fields.

Women in Engineering preLUsion
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
Lehigh University
The primary feature of the Women in Engineering preLUsion program is a three-day pre-orientation hosted by the Lehigh Women Engineers group for incoming first-year female engineering students. Participants learn about the opportunities available to Lehigh engineers and are introduced to peers, upper-division students, and the faculty and staff — including a “Meet the Dean” event — who will assist them in the transition to college. The orientation consists of guided lab activities that offer hands-on experience and assist in acclimating participants to college level academics, as well as visits to various departments, research centers, and other parts of campus.

Women’s Innovation Network (WIN)
Marquette University
WIN is designed to support the advancement of women, people of color, first-generation college students, the LGBTQ community, and other individuals currently underrepresented in innovation and entrepreneurship. It achieves this by facilitating mentoring relationships, providing successful role models from underrepresented populations, and delivering leadership programming that promotes inclusion. WIN also serves as an incubator for innovative leadership initiatives that challenge barriers to advancement for underrepresented groups. As part of its programming, WIN developed the Women in STEM Summit to connect pre-college youth and Marquette University students, faculty, and staff, as well as external stakeholders such as alumni, corporations, nonprofits, and community members.

Women in Technology
Division of Information Technology and Sciences
Champlain College
Women in Technology is a multifaceted program designed to change the face of the technology fields for future generations. It includes scholarships dedicated to aspiring technologists who identify as women and recruitment strategies that champion success stories at all levels and stages of education and careers. Another feature is the student-run Women in Technology Club, which provides opportunities for peer mentorship, networking, and continued learning. Furthermore, the program offers career coaching and alumni networking that leverages strong relationships and shared commitment to student success in experiential internships and competitive opportunities such as the Northeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

Woodbury University School of Architecture + LAUSD STEM Academy Hollywood Mentorship Program
Woodbury University School of Architecture
In 2019, Woodbury University partnered with the STEM Academy of Hollywood, a local Los Angeles high school that offers an architecture engineering program, to launch a mentorship program for students from underrepresented backgrounds. As part of the program, high school students are paired with university alumni to participate in a series of events, activities, and roundtables designed to cultivate an interest in the field and provide an understanding of the paths to becoming a professional architect. Specific topics covered include issues related to sustainability, emerging technologies, digital fabrication tools, and more.