Board 420: Urban STEM Collaboratory: 5 Years of Lessons Learned

The Urban STEM Collaboratory is an NSF-funded S-STEM project featuring partnership across three urban universities to develop effective interventions, in combination with financial support, for improving academic outcomes for engineering students. The Urban STEM project was designed to address challenges faced at the three urban institutions collaborating for the project, and in particular the need for many of the engineering students to work a significant number of hours each week, resulting in them taking fewer course hours each semester and being disconnected from their peers, faculty, and campus. These factors are especially concerning for students who are underrepresented in engineering majors, as they already leave engineering majors and careers at higher rates. Thus, the Urban STEM Collaboratory was designed to support students both financially and in the development of a stronger STEM identity and sense of 'fit' and connection to their academic program and career pathway. This paper outlines the Urban STEM Collaboratory model, describes the student cohorts, and highlights findings from student engagement in the project.