Increasing Retention of STEM Students with Financial Need via the NSF S-STEM Desire Scholarship Program

We present findings from a focused review of National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) programs, along with interim findings from the Iona College "Development of Excellence in Science through Intervention, Resilience, and Enrichment (DESIRE)" S-STEM scholarship program. DESIRE supports academically talented chemistry and computer science majors with financial need. Data were gathered through focus groups of S-STEM students and surveys of S-STEM students and other students. Our findings suggest that S-STEM and similar programs can maximize chances for retention of diverse undergraduate STEM students by combining scholarships with five sets of strategies, aimed at 1) social support and social connections; 2) academic support, including academic/emotional support (e.g., peer support); 3) meeting the needs of students with work or family obligations; 4) research and professional field engagement opportunities; and 5) supporting new freshmen.