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The STEM Scholars Program For Diversity and Excellence

 STEM Scholars Mission

The mission of the STEM Scholars program is to provide a supportive network and community for students majoring within the STEM fields. Majoring in the STEM fields can be a rigorous and educationally challenging process. The STEM Scholars Program provides resources to students to help them find success in their degree path. We partner students with upper division peer mentors, help students build one-on-one relationships with WOU faculty, facilitate career-oriented workshops and seminars on campus, help students find discipline-specific tutoring, provide students with avenues to find internships and real world experiences and help graduating students advance into professional programs or career pathways.

The STEM Scholars program is committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the STEM fields and makes the support of traditionally underrepresented minority students a priority.

 


This project was supported by Grant HB3072, awarded by Oregon's Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The opinions, findings, conclusion, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission or Western Oregon University.

STEM Scholars Focus on Diversity

increasing the participation and retention of underrepresented minority students is a primary goal of the STEM Scholars and aims to create a diverse STEM working community. Creating diversity in STEM disciplines is critical to answering some of the major questions and problems facing humanity. As noted by Professor Scott:

“When we consider scientific research as group problem-solving, instead of the unveiling of individual brilliance, diversity becomes key to excellence. In his book, The Difference, Professor Scott Page lays out a mathematical rationale and logic for diversity. He shows that, when trying to solve complex problems (i.e., the sort of thing scientists are paid to do), progress often results from diverse perspectives. That is, the ability to see the problem differently, not simply “being smart,” often is the key to a breakthrough. As a result, when groups of intelligent individuals are working to solve hard problems, the diversity of the problem solvers matters more than their individual ability. Thus, diversity is not distinct from enhancing overall quality–it is integral to achieving it.”

Gibbs, K. Jr. (2014) Scientific American.


"Diversity — of thought, perspective, and experience — is essential for excellence in research and innovation in science and engineering"

Frances Cordova, Director of the National Science Foundation

 

CONTACT US

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)

503-838-8644 | or e-mail: Patricia Flatt