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STEM Bridge Overview
In 2020, the University of Arizona’s College of Education and the STEM Learning Center in partnership with Pima Community College (PCC) launched a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded S-STEM Project, “Bridging Faculty and Student Cultures: Culturally Responsive Support for STEM Students Transferring between Two- and Four-Year Hispanic Serving Institutions” -- otherwise called the STEM Bridge program.
Recognized as a highly successful evidence-based practice by the Arizona Hispanic Serving Institution Consortium and Community College Daily, the STEM Bridge program provided support to academically talented, Pima Community College STEM transfer students from low-income households in order to help them graduate in STEM fields (Science, Computer Technology, Engineering, Math) from the University of Arizona.
Now that the NSF funding has ended, we are seeking funds to continue the success! With the help of donor funding, program supports will include:
The program begins supporting students the year before they transfer to prepare them for their majors and to connect them with UREs earlier. Previous programming started support after transfer, but feedback revealed such support was arriving too late, placing them at a disadvantage compared to traditional students who accessed these resources during their first and second years at the university.
Despite pandemic challenges, STEM Bridge managed to enroll and serve three cohorts of 30+ STEM community college transfer students through pre-transfer, transfer and post-transfer phases.
The 95 students enrolled in total in the STEM Bridge program transferred at a rate of 97 percent, and 90% have persisted or graduated with a STEM major from the University of Arizona.
Why Give to STEM Bridge?
We need your help to continue this programming now that government funding has ended. Help us continue student success!
This program focuses on academically talented, low-income community college transfer students. Nationally, only 10% of this student population achieves a STEM Bachelor's degree. At 90%, we have reversed the trend. The evidence is clear - STEM Bridge increases students' sense of belonging and guides them in achieving their goals.
Fact Sheet 1: Persistence and Graduation Fact Sheet 2: Program Experience and Impact
Read a student success story - a 2025 U of A Engineering graduate
For more information about STEM Bridge in terms of services and impact, please visit our website.
Help us bridge the gap to transfer student success in STEM!
Provide a full-length faculty mentoring session for one student.
Provide inclusive mentor training for one STEM faculty mentor.
Provide a week of wrap-around retention support for ten students.
Mark the year you stood up for a program like this in a year when programs like these are being cut and defunded!
