An Ecological Systems Theory Approach to Enhance STEM Identity Among Undergraduate Women at an HSI Engaged in a Mixed Level Pro-Social Community Service Experience

Program Abstract: Alverno College is an undergraduate women’s institution and an HSI located in Milwaukee, WI. Through NSF IUSE HSI (award #2122903) funding we apply Brofenbrenner’s ecosystem model to refine pro-social community-based experiences within the STEM curriculum to a mixed-level design and measure the impact on belongingness, science identity, and perception of STEM as a helping field. Using best practices to engage underserved populations in STEM, the modified curriculum requires advanced STEM majors to collaborate with community organizations and apply their STEM knowledge to address an unmet need that directly helps the communities where they live. Students make their work public through blog posts. Beginning students read these posts and reflect on the values found within the pro-social community projects. Surveys and interviews are used to measure the impact of the mixed-level curriculum design on belonginess, science identity, and perceptions of scientists.