Howard Community College

PROGRAMMING STEM SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS Stephanie Schneider and 35 other students – who are studying engineering, environmental science, life sciences, mathematics, computer science, biotechnology, biochemistry, and more – have chosen to participate in HCC's STEM Learning Community. The STEM Learning Community brings together students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and provides them with a supportive environment, where they learn and practice skills that will help them succeed in the workplace. The program is centered on a seminar series with The number of STEM majors at HCC increased by 32 percent from fall semester 2008 to 2009, with an additional 11 percent in 2010. a sequence of one-credit courses offered over four semesters. "We support students who are interested in STEM fields," explains Dr. Loretta Tokoly, STEM Learning Community coordinator. "Through classroom and extracurricular activities, women and minority students. As participants finish the courses we build up their skills in research, communication, time and their degrees at HCC, they are moving on to four-year colleges, management, and teamwork; and hold mock interviews conducted where many receive scholarships, and they are successful in by people from the business community. Students write resumes their programs." targeted to a STEM career. And we give them social support and study partners who are students with similar interests, while we celebrate who they are and what they bring to the table." Innovative Programs, Insightful Professors The word is out that HCC offers programs that can open the Studies have shown that learning communities improve door to STEM careers. The number of STEM majors at HCC academic achievement, student retention, and degree completion increased by 32 percent from fall semester 2008 to 2009, with an time, as well as help the students build self-confidence and develop additional 11 percent in 2010. supportive relationships with other participants and with faculty. As of fall 2010, HCC is offering the state's first Associate Dr. Tokoly and Professor Frederic Lang teach the seminars and of Science in Engineering (ASE) degree, designed for students get to know their students well. They help students conduct research preparing to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a about fields that interest them and connect them to internships bachelor's degree in computer engineering. The Maryland Higher and scholarships. And they put students in contact with STEM Education Commission approved only two schools to offer the professionals in the community who serve as mentors. Classes degree this year – HCC and Carroll Community College. host speakers who discuss everything from ethics in the sciences to "Two- and four-year institutions worked together on the statistics to career options. In addition, field trips offer visits to area desired outcomes of the program and the skill level required to businesses, government agencies, and labs. get there," says Professor Daniel Friedman, HCC science and "The learning community has been making a difference," technology department chair. Students majoring in computer reports Tokoly. "We've seen steady growth in participation by science, electrical engineering or related fields may choose to Howard Community College Spring 2011 | Pathways 13

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