Enhancing Stem Undergraduate Education and Experiential Learning For Women and Underrepresented Minorities At Universidad Del Este

The main goal of UNE-WAMS is to enhance UNE's ability to attract women and underrepresented minorities sophomore students from rural areas (Canovanas, Rio Grande, Loiza, Luquillo, Ceiba and Naguabo) that are interested in the STEM disciplines and promote their development towards completion of their studies. Therefore, UNE-WAMS and on-campus collaborators will identify promising sophomore students at the SC & T and provide them with advise, mentoring, training and educational opportunities in preparation for STEM-related careers. The following three objectives are proposed to establish the UNE-WAMS project:Objective #1: Implement a student retention program to enhance the educational experience at UNE which will include career advising, peer tutoring, seminars, workshops and community services.Objective #2: Provide student experiential learning opportunities through undergraduate research experiences in Food Safety at UNE or at collaborative industries and academic
institutions. Objective #3: Increase the alignment of undergraduate STEM education and degree production with workforce needs, particularly at the regional level, with a focus on Food Safety and other high-demand STEM fields.