The monarch butterfly effect: enriching learning, programs, and student experiences in the inland empire

Federal Project Grant Summary: The Monarch Butterfly Effect

Moreno Valley College, a Hispanic-Serving Institution, received $500,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation's STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) under the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program for a Level 1 Implementation and Evaluation Project awarded January 15, 2026, with completion scheduled for December 31, 2028. The project develops and delivers hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences centered on monarch butterfly habitat conservation and restoration in the Inland Empire region. STEM majors participate in authentic research activities including native habitat development, seedling planting, soil testing, wildlife observation, and data collection on plant and insect populations. Humanities majors build technical writing competencies to support project dissemination through publications and presentations. No subawards are planned for this project.

The initiative aims to strengthen student engagement and academic outcomes by involving underrepresented populations in meaningful environmental research while fostering civic engagement in local conservation efforts. An independent evaluator will provide formative and summative assessment to track progress toward stated goals, examining how habitat restoration work through coursework and independent student efforts impacts both students and faculty. This funding supports the NSF's broader mission to enhance undergraduate STEM education, broaden participation in STEM fields, and increase institutional capacity to develop and implement evidence-based innovations in STEM teaching and learning at Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Abstract

With support from the improving undergraduate stem education: hispanic-serving institutions (HSI program), this level 1 implementation and evaluation project at moreno valley college aims to provide hands-on learning experiences across multiple disciplines. The project will develop a broad collection of experiences centered on the conservation and restoration of monarch butterfly habitats. Stem majors will participate in activities including the developing native habitats, plotting and planting seedlings, testing soils, observing wildlife, and gathering plant and insect data. The project will also improve the technical writing skills of humanities majors to support project dissemination through publications, presentations, and other outlets. Involving students in authentic research experiences is a proven approach to strengthen engagement and realize stronger academic outcomes. This project further centers the work to support butterfly populations as an important part of students' local communities, encouraging them to become active, engaged citizens. Project research will explore how contributing to habitat restoration efforts through courses and independent efforts impact students and faculty. The project will be assessed by an independent evaluator who will provide formative and summative feedback to ensure progress towards stated goals. This project is funded by the HSI program, which aims to enhance undergraduate stem education, broaden participation in stem, and increase capacity to engage in the development and implementation of innovations to improve stem teaching and learning at hsis. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.