by Nikole Gianopoulos
University of West Georgia Institutional STEM Excellence held a summer bridge program from June 30 – July 25, 2014 for upcoming freshmen who are interested in majoring in STEM disciplines, which are science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Provost Dr. Micheal Crafton and a Board of Regents STEM initiative official addressed the students for their achievements at the program’s closing ceremony.
The UWise program has been recognized as the best program on campus during the past academic year and aims to provide academic support to students to succeed in their STEM gateway courses. In addition, the program provides opportunities for a hands-on research experience while providing faculty for exploring innovative teaching practices that enhance student learning.
“This program closes the gap between the preparation for secondary school and the expectation of it,” says Board of Regents STEM Coordinator Dr. Kamau Bobb. “These students are entering the best example of this program that there is.”
Given the significant impact of STEM careers on the regional and national economies, there has been considerable interest in improving student success in these disciplines. In the past four years UWise brought over $1.2 million of external funding to UWG to support STEM initiatives.
An important outcome from the UWise program was STEM to science, technology, engineering, analytical skills and mathematics – better known as STEAM.
Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development Dr. S. Swamy Mruthinti notes, “The lesson learned from this collaboration is that students were more engaged in writing and analytical skills when STEM was one of the themes of their English writing class.”
While eating dinner at the closing ceremony the students had a chance to reflect on the time they spent at the four-week program.
“The UWise program helped orient me to the college life. Now I know what to expect as far assignments and homework goes,” exclaims biology major Zachary Nofs.
Chemistry major Sarah Schor adds, “I feel like my professors cared and were interested in the things that I had to say. I would do this again next summer if I could.”
