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New Student Orientation: RAM Road to your Education

August 29, 2023

Welcome STEM Students!

Advancing STEM Learning and Student Success Pathways

Marlene Johnson, Dr. Melishia Santiago,

Alissa Torres Santiago, and Dr. Mary Wiseman�

School of STEM�Springfield Technical Community College [STCC] �One Armory Square, Springfield, Massachusetts

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Participants will be able to:�

Describe the STEM Student Success Plan and how it supports students struggling in STEM courses.�
Explain the key components of individualized student support, including coaching, academic counseling, tutoring, and supplemental instruction.�
Identify strategies for implementing and assessing the impact of the STEM Student Success Plan on student success.

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Figure 1: STCC is located in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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Figure 2: (A) Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and (B) Dr. Seuss

(A)

(B)

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Springfield Technical Community College [STCC]

Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)

Enrollment: 5,447 in 2024

Age Range: 13-82

Median Age: 23

Ethnicity:

Hispanic 40%,

White 30%,

Black 15%,

Other including unknown 15%

Gender:

Female: 62%,

Male 36%,

Unknown/Other 2%

Enrollment Status:

Part-Time 70%,

Full-time 30%

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STEM Center Wrap Around Services:

STEM majors - We offer 24 associate degrees and 15 certificates.
STEM Advisors (Transfer/bi-lingingual advisor, subject matter expert, transfer expert)
STEM Coaches (2 full time STEM coaches)
Financial Literacy Coordinator
STEM peers (3 part time- STEM student peers)
Tutors (16 in total)
STEM Week (three consecutive years) HSI Week (one year)

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STEM Coaching

STEM Coaches provide academic support, mentorship, and resources to help students succeed STEM fields. We assist with study strategies, tutoring referrals, and skill development. Additionally, we guide students through academic challenges while connecting them to campus resources such as financial aid, career services, and support programs.�

Coaches are equipped to help students in the following areas:

Study skills
Time management
Technology assistance (AIRES & Blackboard)
Guidance towards on and off-campus resources
Retention Alerts
Academic guidance and success planning

Alissa: Hi everyone, my name is Alissa, and I’m one of the academic coaches here at STCC.

As a coach, I provide academic support and mentorship to help students succeed in STEM fields. My role includes assisting students with study strategies, tutoring referrals, and skill development, such as time management and organization. I also help students navigate various software systems used in their courses.

Beyond academics, I connect students to on-campus resources, including financial aid, career services, and other support programs available to them. Another key part of my role is addressing retention alerts—these are notifications from professors when a student is falling behind in their coursework. In response, I reach out to students, offer support, and work with them to create personalized success plans that are goal-driven and designed to help them get back on track.

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Impact of Coaching

Fall 22-23

Fall 23-24

Fall 24-Spring 25

Figure 3: Comparison of students on warning before and after incorporating coaching

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Equity Leaders & Guides [EL&G] Training

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Transform Institutional Culture

Meet �Students �Where �They Are�

�Reimagine �& Build Culturally Relevant �Practices

Figure 4: Equity Leaders & Guides [EL&G] Training

Mary’s Slide: The Equity Leaders and Guides (EL&G) training began on our campus as a response to the need for deeper engagement in equity work among faculty and staff. Recognizing that education is the business of relationships, we developed this training to help participants create more inclusive, student-centered learning environments.

Designed for both faculty and staff, EL&G focused on humanizing student-facing documentation, including syllabi, and encouraged participants to reflect on their own implicit biases. Through structured discussions and practical exercises, the EL&G training provided educators with tools to more effectively support underserved student populations.

This collective effort fostered institutional change, ensuring that equity is not just a concept but a practice embedded in daily interactions with students. As part of the training, each participant developed an individual action plan, equipping them with concrete steps to apply equity principles in their roles. Connections were strengthened through the creation of a regional community of practice, fostering collaboration and shared commitment to equity-driven change. EL&G continues to inspire educators to lead with empathy, awareness, and action.

Transform institutional culture, Reimagine & build culturally relevant practices with faculty & staff.

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The STEM Student Success Plan

1. Grades for spring and fall 2024 were analyzed as part of a pilot program.

2. STEM professors identify the students who are struggling and refer them to the deans, advisors, and the STEM coaches.

2A) We met with students after the third or fourth week after classes started.

2B) Coaching sessions from varied from meeting once/twice per semester to meeting weekly/bi-weekly.

1A. Twenty seven students participated in the Student Success Plan.

1B. Success rate was 77.59%.

Figure 5: The STEM Student Success Plan.

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Summary:

The STEM Student Success Plan described and supported how students struggling in STEM courses were able to pass them successfully with a success rate of 77.59%.
The key components of individualized student support included coaching, academic counseling, tutoring, and supplemental instruction.
We identified strategies, such as individualized coaching, for implementing and assessing the impact of the STEM Student Success Plan on student success.

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Acknowledgements & Questions?

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Questions?

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