The program of excellence in STEM: Involvement of traditionally underrepresented students in STEM education through research and mentoring at Florida A&M University

In its first year of existence, the Program of Excellence in STEM (PE-STEM) at Florida A&M University (FAMU) is designed to provide a model for increasing the recruitment, retention and graduation of STEM majors at the institution through mentoring and research involvement. In addition to also providing advisement and professional development of participants, the program focus is on area high school students and entering college freshmen with the goal to increase the participation of these students from underrepresented groups in STEM disciplines. PE-STEM uses a 3-tiered approach concentrating on recruitment, retention and graduation, including a nearly four-week long Summer Academy, as well as monthly workshops throughout the academic year. One of the aims of the interdisciplinary PE-STEM program is provide a student cohort with mentoring from faculty and undergraduate students, as well as the opportunity to participate in actual on-going research in STEM-related disciplines under the direction of faculty. These activities have been monitored over the initial year of the program to determine their actual effectiveness on the attitudes toward, participation in, and desire to pursue degrees in STEM-related fields of the participating students.