STEM-Mia (“My STEM”) was essential for Miami Dade College (MDC) to provide scholarships and support to over 60 academically talented, low-income STEM students (scholars) at the Padron (formerly InterAmerican) campus.

Through STEM-Mia, Miami Dade College (MDC) utilized a five (5) prong approach to provide educational support through connecting scholars with faculty mentors, coordinating STEMinars, providing scholarships, enrolling scholars in interdisciplinary courses, and offering a STEM Summary Academy. Faculty mentors were assigned at the beginning of the program to ensure scholars met academic and professional objectives. Mentors met monthly and discussed topics and provided support using MDC resources such as Single Stop and Student Services. Monthly STEMinars were coordinated based on student interest or trends in the STEM field. These seminars included industry professionals and trips to Kennedy Space Center and transfer institutions so scholars can engage and network. Scholarships were provided at the beginning of each major semester (Fall and Spring) to off-set the need for students to work so they can focus on their academics. Scholars had to maintain a cumulative GPA of a 3.00 and be enrolled in courses towards their STEM degree. Additionally, the scholars were enrolled in two (2) interdisciplinary courses; IDS1107: Tools for Success in STEM and IDS2124: Transfer Success in STEM. Both courses offered students guidance with an MDC professor who engaged in how to successfully pass STEM courses, developing their leadership skills, and their ability to present their ideas/solutions to real-world problems. Lastly, scholars were given the opportunity to work alongside a professor to conduct research in various STEM fields including computer science, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering. These research opportunities were within MDC, Florida International University, St. Thomas University, and the University of Florida. Through these approaches, the programs objectives, which included 80% retention and 50% graduation were exceeded. 

In addition to the services provided within Miami Dade College (MDC), the program also provided students with opportunities to attend conferences such as the NSF/AAAS S-STEM Symposium, where the scholars presented on topics that included mental health in STEM and Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable. Through that experience, the leadership team, with the recommendation of the alumni scholars, created an opportunity for the scholars to work in groups to solve a problem in STEM and present their findings to administrators at the MDC Padron campus. Topics that include, creating a STEM student organization, expanding mentorship, solar powered panels on campus, virtual reality in mathematics classroom, and creating a fitness center, enabled students to voice their opinions in a meaningful way. The impact of this experience has enriched the student’s ability to communicate with their professors and administrators, without the fear of being dismissed. Additionally, creating a tradition at the Padron campus where students can present their ideas and potentially receive funding to complete their projects. In the end, as the scholars have transferred to their respective four-year institutions, they remember the comradery they had at Miami Dade College and the support they received to pursue their goals within STEM.

Last Modified: 07/19/2024
Modified by: Willian Neris