The STEM Starter Academy aims to recruit and graduate diverse students in STEM fields through a collaborative effort among 15 colleges, impacting over 10,000 students and receiving a total investment of $7.125 million. Year 2 results indicate higher retention and graduation rates among participating students, with significant progress in diversifying the student body. The program emphasizes peer mentoring, support services, and data-driven evaluation to enhance learning outcomes.

1. STEM Starter Academy
Board of Higher Education Meeting | May 3 , 2016

2. 2
 Program Overview
 Year 2 Evaluation Report
 Institutional Highlights
 SpringfieldTechnical Community College
 Mt.Wachusett Community College
 Middlesex Community College
Agenda
STEM Starter Academy

3. 3
 Recruit more students, especially diverse students,
into STEM community college programs
 Graduate more students with STEM certificates
and degrees ready to enter the workforce or transfer
to a four-year STEM program
STEM Starter Academy
Goals

4. 4
 Legislative initiative
 Championed by House Speaker DeLeo
 Full scale, statewide implementation
 One model
 15 colleges
 10,000 students and growing
 Total investment to date =
$7,125,000 (through year 2 of 3)
STEM Starter Academy
Massachusetts Innovation

5. 5
STEM Starter Academy
A Learning Community & Continuum

6. 6
 Growing the student pipeline
 10,000+ students served in total
 6,600 students (year 2)
 Diversifying the STEM student body
 SSA demographics do not reflect the typical
overrepresentation of certain subgroups in STEM,
but rather reflect the diversity of the overall
CC population:
▪ 12%African American, 14% Latino, 51% female
STEM Starter Academy
Impacts to Date –Year 2 Indicators

7. 7
 Progress in retaining and graduating students
 Full-time enrollment 13 percentage points higher
among SSA students
 75% of SSA students completing DevMath enrolled
in college-level math
▪ Among all CC students – 20% completing DevMath
complete college-level math within two years
 70% SSA certificates and degrees awarded in
STEM fields
▪ Statewide – only 45% sub-baccalaureate awarded
in STEM
STEM Starter Academy
Impacts to Date –Year 2 Indicators

8. 8
 Peer mentoring and
support services
 SSA Program
Coordinators
 Inter/intra-campus
collaboration
 Data and formative /
summative evaluation
STEM Starter Academy
Lessons Learned –WhatWorks

9. 9
FY16 Budget (Year 3)
Personnel
43%
Fringe/Indirect 10%
Equipment 5%
Books, Stipends,
Scholarships
4%
Program SupportCosts
6%
DHEAdministrative
2%
Program Evaluation
3%
Peer
Mentors/Tutors
27%
FY16 Budget: $4.75M
STEM Starter Academy
9

10. Institutional Highlights
SpringfieldTechnical Community College
Mt.Wachusett Community College
Middlesex Community College

11. Discussion