The United States’ ability to contribute to, and innovate in, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) industries within the global market is of national concern. As the largest, most diverse and one of the most affordable university systems in the country, the California State University (CSU), with twenty-three campuses, 474,000 students, and 49,000 faculty and staff, plays a critical role in STEM degree completion. The CSU serves more than 125,000 STEM students, and graduated 20,201 STEM baccalaureates in 2016.

Building on its 20-year commitment to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate in community service, service learning (SL), deemed academically appropriate by faculty, the CSU Office of the Chancellor conducted a systemwide research study of service-learning courses in STEM fields from fall 2014 thru fall 2016. The study examined the impact service learning has on common measures of student academic achievement (e.g. GPA, retention and graduation), career development and civic engagement. The presentation will review these research findings, share how the CSU is using the findings to enhance and improve service-learning STEM courses, and engage participants in a discussion about how these research findings can be applied to their own institutions.

Facilitators:

Judy Botelho, Director, Center for Community Engagement, California State University, Office of the Chancellor – For 20 years, Judy Botelho has been leading and implementing innovative service learning and community engagement initiatives that support the unique needs and interests of higher education institutions and their surrounding communities. Since 2010, her office has successfully supported the expansion of service learning in STEM disciplines by 86%. As the director of the CSU Center for Community Engagement (CCE), Judy delivers, inspires and sustains high-quality learning opportunities by promoting programs and initiatives that create inclusive spaces for authentic relationships to occur, and that honor personal growth, self-empowerment and life-long learning. CCE has a successful history of garnering and managing external grant funding ($15 million since 1998) to support and advance service-learning programs across the system. Botelho has worked closely with first year experience program directors and undergraduate research programs at all 23 institutions, and supports a community-based research network consisting of more than 600 faculty and community partners from the CSU, University of California system and private California institutions.

Dr. Rebecca M. Eddy, President, Cobblestone Applied Research & Evaluation, Inc.- Dr. Rebecca Eddy has conducted evaluation or applied research studies on numerous projects including Service Learning Transforming Educational Models in STEM through the CSU Chancellor’s Office, funded by Learn and Serve America through which she also co-authored New partnerships for a new economy: A guide to effectively prepare STEM students for careers of choice (Podolske, Dixon, Langford & Eddy, 2011). Other clients include programs funded by the National Science Foundation; U. S. Department of Education Title III and Title V; National Institutes of Health; and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Eddy also trains professional evaluators from around the world as a faculty member at Claremont Graduate University in the Advanced Certificate in Evaluation Program. Under her leadership, Cobblestone has developed many instruments to test constructs of interest for programs such as student civic engagement, student interest in STEM majors and careers, as well as established a number of procedures to monitor program implementation and outcomes.

Ms. Nicole Galport, Research Associate, Cobblestone Applied Research & Evaluation, Inc. – Nicole Galport is a research associate at Cobblestone and a doctoral student at Claremont Graduate University (CGU), where she is pursuing her degree in Psychology with a concentration in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods. As an evaluator, she has worked on a range of projects throughout the education spectrum including the evaluation of STEM education programs and retention/graduation initiatives. As a doctoral student, Nicole’s research focuses on evaluator competency development, professional development, and training programs. Nicole received her B.A. in Psychology and Leadership and Organizational Studies from Chapman University and M.A. in Psychology with a co-concentration in Positive Organizational Psychology and Evaluation from CGU.