When:Tusday ,May 6th, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm

Claudia Vergara  Mark Urban-Lurain  Daina Briedis  Jon Sticklen Register HERE Abstract: Attrition of potentially qualified students from STEM programs has been identified as a nation-wide concern that will affect the future of our workforce. Faculty engagement with these students can make the difference between the students' remaining in STEM disciplines and students choosing different, seemingly “friendlier” career paths. The objective of the connector faculty (CF) program at Michigan State University is to build effective student-faculty connections through coordinated formal and informal interactions where students feel supported and welcomed in [engineering] and broadly STEM disciplines. The webinar will discuss the key factors and lessons learned during the implementation of the CF program, including the transition of the program towards a sustainable phase. Attendees will gain a unique perspective about strategies that can be applied and adapted in the context of their own institutions. Participants are encouraged to get the conversation started before the webinar by posting questions and ideas about ways to facilitate student and faculty engagement in these programs on the STEPCentral.netwebsite. (http://stepcentral.net/webinars/13) Contact Tania Siemens (tsiemens@uoregon.edu) with any questions. Thanks and see you there!