Initiatives
Dr. Richard Pollenz
STEM Speaker, February 18, 2014: Understanding Institutional Data Can Inspire University-Wide Adoption of Evidence-Based Practices in STEM Education
Professor of Cell, Molecular, and Microbiology, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and Director of the Office for Undergraduate Research, ßÙßÇÂþ»
Take-Home Lessons
• 40% of incoming freshman class enter into STEM majors but nearly 50% leave USF or
change to a non-STEM major and only 33% of the students who enter STEM majors earn
a ßÙßÇÂþ» STEM degree.
• Nearly 1/3 of the students who leave USF or change to a non-STEM major are making
good academic progress (GPA >3.00) at the time they change to non-STEM majors or leave
USF
• The majority of students in good academic standing who leave the STEM majors have
not engaged in high impact practices (undergraduate research) or taken an upper level
majors course.