In 2017, Longwood University launched the LIFE STEM Program, a holistic program girded by best practices in STEM teaching: cohorts of students, summer bridge program, genuine community building, intentional faculty-student mentoring, focused academic support and professional development, early research experiences, engagement with challenging…

Would you like to help your students adjust to university life? Perhaps you are simply interested in allowing them to feel more integrated into a department right from the start of their first year? These were the types of issues that we were hoping to address when we founded the MySci Advisors Program, a peer-mentoring group for first year…

The Analytical Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS) questions criteria established by the Committee on Professional Training of the same organization concerning the role of analytical chemistry in freshman level courses. (CP)

A freshman chemistry course was taught with emphasis on self-pacing, student-instructor interaction, and individual understanding of each topic. Student were graded after each unit and on the final exam. Results of the investigation showed higher grades and greater student participation compared to previous groups taught by the lecture method. (PS)

Reports that five hours per week remedial work with freshmen failing the introductory chemistry course led to higher final marks than for a group not receiving remedial help. (CP)

Describes a program that attempts to bridge the gap between class lectures and laboratory. Students are involved in individual investigations. Effective use of undergraduates is made for instructional purposes. (PS)

In an integrated four-course sequence, Colorado School of Mines engineering and science students work on open-ended, real-world problems prepared by government agencies and private companies that interact as clients with student teams. The program fosters intellectual development, teamwork, and communication skills. (Author/MSE)

Described are the use of case-method teaching, educational competitions, and interactive computer-graphic instructional software to teach structural engineering concepts at the freshman level. Details of the instructional software used and the bridge competition are provided. (CW)

A plan at Purdue University to develop a model program for women in engineering is described. The Purdue Department of Freshman Engineering received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education through the Women's Education Equity Act to help overcome some of the problems faced by women who enter engineering. The program focuses on an…