Preparing Students for STEM Success: How Integrating Holistic Student Support into a STEM Major Impacts Student Engagement and Retention

Program Abstract: Students interested in earning a STEM degree come to college with a wide range of prior experiences, skills, and confidence to navigate college. The UNC Asheville Chemistry Scholars Program, funded by NSF S-STEM, prepares students for STEM success by integrating holistic student support into the chemistry major curriculum. Support addresses the academic, social and emotional needs of undergraduates, and is scaffolded across three phases: first-year transition; building identity as a chemistry major; and transition to careers upon graduation. Elements include a first-year seminar (FYS) course, faculty mentoring, community building, high-impact undergraduate research, and career professional development. This session focuses on 6 years of implementation and research findings on student retention and engagement of the FYS, Science and Practice of Learning and Thriving in College, that prepares students to build rigorous study skills, emotional intelligence skills, and campus connections to meet the breadth of changes and challenges facing first-year STEM students.