Professional development of Wheaton students is a core goal of the WISE initiative. One of our WISE student initiatives is our STEM Leadership course. This provides opportunities for under-represented students interested in STEM to develop their leadership skills and apply them to issues of inclusivity and belonging on campus.
Students design and propose campus-change projects that address a barrier to student success in STEM at Wheaton. Selected proposals are supported by the WISE initiative. We also strive to improve students’ sense of belonging in STEM by supporting a variety of outreach activities aimed at building community among first-generation and other under-served students in STEM.
MUSES
Mentoring Underserved Students for Excellence in STEM (MUSES) started as a campus-change project from the STEM Leadership course in spring 2021, and it continues today with support from WISE. If you’re looking for a peer mentor in stem or would like to help a mentee in your major, join MUSES!
Student-Led Focus Groups
One student was interested in learning from other students about their experiences in STEM, both in and outside of the classroom. In her campus-change project she worked with our external consultant to run focus groups to hear more about students’ experiences. She presented her research at the symposium “Elevating the Student Voice” at Mercy College in New York in August, 2023.
STEM Outreach Activities
The Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning, in conjunction with a WISE student assistant, hosts a variety of student events on and off campus. Recent events included STEM Trivia, a midterm snack break at the library, a Museum of Science field trip, and an eclipse viewing party.
