Federal Grant Award Summary

Highline College received a $489,156 Project Grant award effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076). This Track 1 Improving Teaching and Learning through Collaborative Efforts (ITYC) project aims to strengthen team learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses at two-year colleges by developing evidence-based teaching interventions for both face-to-face and online/hybrid instructional modalities.

The project will deliver three primary products and services: (1) identification and analysis of psychosocial predictors of student engagement and perceptions of group work effectiveness through student surveys; (2) explanation of mechanisms underlying observed differences across class modality, student characteristics, and institutional contexts through focus groups and faculty interviews; and (3) development, testing, and evaluation of instructional practices for effective group work. Highline College faculty from Washington two-year colleges will co-create teaching modules, teamwork tools, and professional development resources designed to support instructors in fostering student teamwork skills, persistence, and transfer readiness to four-year STEM programs. The project integrates motivational theory and self-regulation approaches to address gaps in consistent benefits from collaborative learning, particularly in response to barriers introduced by the rapid expansion of online and hybrid course delivery.