Through their U.S. Department of Education’s HSI-STEM 5-year $3M grant, Felician University will begin their “Fostering Inclusive Excellence for STEM Achievement (FIESTA)” grant in collaboration with Union College in New Jersey.
Felician and Union will collaborate in the FIESTA project, that is designed to increase the enrollment of Latinx and low-income students in STEM majors; to improve Felician’s STEM learning environments and strengthen STEM pedagogy at both institutions for increased student
engagement and success; and improve the success of Latinx and low-income students in STEM at
Felician as measured by retention and graduation.
To increase STEM enrollment, Union and Felician STEM leadership and faculty will establish a
model STEM articulation agreement that streamlines baccalaureate pathways and admission to Felician and accelerates students’ progress towards STEM baccalaureate degrees.
Felician will modernize its STEM learning environment through the renovation of its chemistry
and physics labs and the purchase of state-of-the art instrumentation; these investments will better reflect today’s STEM workplace and greatly enhance Felician’s ability to provide collaborative, hands-on learning experiences and training in current tools, techniques, and workforce skills sought by STEM employers.
To strengthen STEM learning and success, especially in STEM gateway courses, Felician will host an annual two-day STEM Faculty Institute for both Felician and Union faculty to learn and deploy best-practice STEM pedagogies as well as culturally responsive teaching practices. Felician will form a new STEM advisory board composed of representatives from STEM industry, fostering expanded internships and industry-informed curriculum for STEM students.
