S-stem vertical mentoring learning community

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education awarded California State University San Marcos Corporation $1,977,368 under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) through a Project Grant effective December 1, 2025, with completion targeted for November 30, 2031. The S-STEM Vertical Mentoring Learning Community project provides scholarships averaging $15,000 annually to 21 high-achieving, low-income undergraduate scholars pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry or Biochemistry for up to five years. Core services delivered include faculty and peer mentoring through an integrated vertical mentoring learning community, block-enrolled courses, structured academic support, undergraduate research engagement opportunities, and career development workshops designed to enhance retention and degree completion rates.

The project directly addresses the national need for qualified STEM professionals in chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, and related fields by supporting talented low-income students through comprehensive support mechanisms. An independent evaluator conducts annual formative and summative assessments utilizing student and mentor interviews and focus groups to measure program impact, retention, and academic progress. The evaluation outcomes contribute to the broader knowledge base regarding effective strategies for supporting economically disadvantaged students in STEM disciplines and strengthening the domestic workforce in critical scientific sectors.

Abstract

This project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income student with demonstrated financial need at california state university SAN marcos. A total of 21 scholars pursuing a bachelor of science degree in chemistry or biochemistry will receive scholarships averaging $15,000 per year for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty and peer mentoring, and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through a vertical mentoring learning community (vmlc) that integrates block-enrolled courses, high-impact practices, and matched professional mentoring. Additional activities for scholars will include structured academic support, undergraduate research engagement, and career development workshops. The overall goal of this track 2 scholarships in stem project is to increase stem degree completion of academically talented, low-income undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. There is a significant national need to grow the stem workforce and nurture key talent that will ensure economic competitiveness and provide domestic leadership across critical sectors. This project directly speaks to this need by supporting stem student success, which will strengthen the workforce in chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will conduct annual formative and summative evaluations, including student and mentor interviews and focus groups to assess program impact, retention, and academic progress. The data generated will contribute to the knowledge base regarding effective strategies to support talented, low-income students in stem. This project is funded by NSF's scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of academically talented, low-income students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in stem fields. IT also aims to improve the education of future stem workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation, and academic/career pathways of low-income students. 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.