The STEM Success Initiative is an inclusive community of students, staff, and faculty engaged in introductory science and mathematics courses. It was created to promote a diverse and inclusive STEM learning community integrating students, faculty, and staff to support student success.
Why STEM at Wooster?
Hear from some of Wooster’s women and minority students in STEM on the challenges they face in STEM and the opportunities they’ve found at Wooster.
STEM Zone
The STEM Zone, located in Severance 105, is a place where any student taking introductory science and mathematics courses can visit to work in groups, work independently, and seek support from professors (who hold office hours there) and upper-level students (the STEM Zone Interns). The STEM Zone is open Sunday–Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. You can also visit the virtual STEM Zone space on Microsoft Teams during open hours to receive assistance from a Zone intern.
STEM Events
The STEM Success Initiative regularly hosts fun and culture-building events for students, such as:
- STEM Bash
- Internship Panels
- Career Panels
- STEM 101s – STEM Zone Intern-developed and -executed events designed to introduce strategies, resources, and opportunities within the STEM field
- STEM Advising and Major Declaration Days
- Get to Know Me: Conversations with STEM Faculty and Staff – Join fellow STEM students in getting to know a faculty/staff member and their personal and professional journeys in STEM
To stay up to date with Zone news and events, follow the STEM Success Initiative on Facebook.
SSI is supported by the STEM Success Initiative Endowment. To learn more about supporting the endowment, please contact the Office of Advancement at (330) 263-2325 or advancement@wooster.edu.
Mission
To empower Wooster STEM faculty, staff, and students in cultivating an inclusive STEM community to better support the academic success and STEM identity development for students from underrepresented groups.
Vision
Equity in STEM success at The College of Wooster
Major Efforts
The STEM Success Initiative supports students directly by providing academic support, and indirectly via cultural initiatives and faculty development opportunities.
Professional Development
The STEM Faculty Learning Community (SFLC) – campus professors and staff meet regularly to discuss best practices for inclusive STEM teaching and learning at Wooster. For more information or to be added to the SFLC email list, please contact Missy Schen.
Support attendance of faculty at STEM-focused pedagogical conferences.
External Relations
This working group shares the mission and programs of the STEM Success Initiative with the rest of the college and beyond, and also promotes the exchange of ideas and collaborations with other Wooster programs with overlapping missions.
Participating Departments/Programs
The STEM Success Initiative involves and supports all science and mathematics departments/programs at Wooster:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB)
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth Sciences
- Mathematics
- Neuroscience
- Physics
- Statistical and Data Sciences
- Environmental Studies
- Economics
2021-22 Advisory Board for STEM Success Initiative
The Advisory Board (SSI AB) is a council of individuals across campus departments and programs that advise and direct programs to support the mission of the STEM Success Initiative. If you have questions, please contact us.
| Name | Department | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Meagan Pollock (co-chair fall) Greg Wiles (spring) | Earth Sciences | Professor |
| Laura DeGroot (co-chair fall, chair spring) | Physics | Visiting Assistant Professor |
| Paul Edmiston | Chemistry | Professor |
| Nathan Foster | Psychology (CoC Appointed Member) | Assistant Professor |
| Dean Fraga | Biology | Professor |
| Kate Gullatta | Learning Center | Associate Director |
| Carol Knoble | Center for Diversity & Inclusion | International Student Coordinator |
| Colby Long | Mathematical and Computational Sciences | Assistant Professor |
| Kara Melrose | STEM Success Initiative | SSI Coordinator |
| Missy Schen | Academic Affairs | Director of Educational Assessment |
| Amy Jo Stavnezer | Neuroscience | Professor |