Board 361: Progress in S-STEM Program Electrical Engineering Scholars at the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology

Abstract The goal of the Electrical Engineering (EE) Scholars Path to Boston Power (PtoBP) program is to enable academically qualified students--with financial need--from greater Boston Public Schools, community colleges, and those enrolled in the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (BFCIT) two year technology associate degree programs, to complete a BS in electrical engineering (EE) leading to employment or an advanced degree in EE, particularly in Electric Power Engineering. The mission of BFCIT, which is a Minority Serving Institution, is to provide technical education to under-served, economically disadvantaged communities. The community of S-STEM Scholars is supported by: a pre-matriculation overnight stay in Maine to learn about electric energy, sustainability, and Maine's unique ecology; a project-based first-year course about power, energy, sustainability, and robotics; mentoring opportunities with local Boston middle and high school students; study group opportunities, and exposure to IEEE PES Society events and other professional activities, such as seminars and conferences. Our goal was a 90% second-year retention rate, and a 90% five-year graduation rate, with at least 50% of the Scholars going on to intern and work in the electric power industry. The program started in October, 2021 and seven qualified EE students (Cohort 1) received the award in 2021. An eighth scholar was later added that year. Since these students had already started the fall semester, they did not do the Maine trip or the first-year seminar, but attended study groups (remotely), and mentored high school students at BFCIT's annual Power Engineering Day. Students attended fewer IEEE meetings than had been intended because of the COVID pandemic. In Fall 2022, an additional eight new students (Cohort 2) received the award at the start of the semester, and three more students were added at the end of the semester. Most students in Cohort 2 had the opportunity to attend the overnight Maine trip, enroll in the first-year project-based course, and participate in the other S-STEM programming. The retention rate of Cohort 1 Scholars after three semesters as PtoBP Scholars was 8/8 or 100%, i.e., all the Scholars returned in BFCIT in the Fall of 2022, although one switched to a two-year electrical engineering technology major, with the approval of the PI. The retention rate of Cohort 2 after one semester was 6/8 or 75%. Two scholars dropped out of the program during the first semester; one switched schools to major in liberal arts and the other dropped out for unknown reasons. So far, the overall retention rate is 14/16 or 82%, close to the 90% goal of the program.