Keeping STEM Within Reach; Strategies for Improving Grades and Retention in Undergraduate Biology Courses

Program Abstract: BIO 101: Introduction to Biology lecture and lab course is a critical gateway course due to its key role in the first year for both biology majors and students in several other STEM majors. Data from BIO 101 show a high rate of retention in the biology sequence (i.e., enrolling in BIO 102 in the spring semester) for students who earned grades A or B (83%). The retention drops to 72% for students who earned C grades and plummets to 26% for those who earned a D, F, or withdrew (DFW) from the course. This presentation discusses strategies used to increased retention and engage students through novel and well tested methods in an Introductory Biology course. By improving grades and retention rates for Introduction to Biology course and increasing STEM identity, we can empower our diverse student body to thrive in their biology coursework as they progress through the major.