1. #60 Collaborative STEM Education
Presenter: John L. Freeouf
jfreeouf@pdx.edu
Collaborators: Peter Collier, Robert Strongin, and
Lorna Tran

2. Goal: • Enhance retention and graduation rate of
college students in STEM disciplines
Approach: • Provide mentoring support to STEM students
• Engage them in a community where they feel
comfortable and welcome
• Provide “intrusive advising”
• Introduce each student to a specific faculty
mentor in related field
• Involve students in research labs as early
as possible
• Include community college students in these
activities (“go where the students are”)

3. Why Mentoring?
• Improves retention
• Connects students to more experienced peers
• Involves students in communities of like-
minded individuals
• Helps students self-identify as practicing
scientists
• Involves them in meaningful relationships
before they abandon STEM major

4. Impact
• Increased number of graduates in STEM
disciplines
• Improved integration of STEM students into
the academic community
• Improved performance of STEM graduates in
their professional careers