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Abstract
In 2012, Eckerd College received a grant from the National Science Foundation to create a scholarship program for transfer students majoring in one of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors offered at our institution. This article outlines the motivations for creating the scholarship program, the process used in the selection of its participants, and the elements of the program that were most effective in enhancing the success of our transfer students. We found that close academic advising, a first-year seminar, and timely intervention with struggling students benefitted many STEM transfers. We suggest monitoring transfer student progress especially closely throughout the first semester and year, and not simply at the end of each semester. We also suggest providing access to transcripts from previous institutions for more informed advising and flagging transfers in class rosters to help instructors identify students who may need special attention. We believe many of these efforts are feasible at colleges even where additional funds to support transfer students are not available.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Laura Reiser Wetzel
Laura Reiser Wetzel ([email protected]) is a professor of marine science and geosciences, Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Kelly R. Debure
Kelly R. Debure is a professor of computer science, Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.