STEMS4ME: A Community College Connection Program For Minority Women In STEM Fields

The purpose of this project was to propose a community college program that supports the successful transfer of minority women into STEM bachelor's degree programs. The literature has indicated that minority women in STEM majors benefit from targeted support that increases their exposure to role-models, faculty, counseling, peers, and information. The proposed program is designed to promote the recruitment, retention, and success of minority women in STEM majors by providing them access to academic counseling, support groups, mentorship opportunities, study groups, learning community classes, workshops and presentations, campus advocacy opportunities, and summer bridging events. Additionally, the proposed program seeks to educate community college faculty about the challenges facing minority women in STEM majors, the role in which they play in this populations' success, and ways in which they can increase the support of minority women in STEM.