2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This paper presents the findings from the ACCESS (Aligning Career & Campus Experiences for Student Success) project, funded under the NSF S-STEM program. The primary goal of ACCESS is to recruit, retain, and graduate low-income, academically talented (LIAT) students in high-demand engineering technology fields, specifically Electrical, Computer, and Mechatronics Engineering Technology. Over the course of the project, two cohorts of students have been enrolled, with a focus on providing financial support, academic advising, and professional development opportunities.

Key activities include the implementation of Appreciative Advising to foster personalized student support, as well as Supplemental Instruction in foundational courses critical to the engineering technology curriculum. Moreover, the project has established strong industry connections through workplace tours and guest speaker seminars, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world STEM careers. Looking ahead, guided internships are being developed as part of a scaffolded suite of professional experiences, which will provide students with practical, hands-on exposure to industry environments, further preparing them for success in STEM fields.

Despite challenges related to FAFSA and Pell eligibility changes affecting recruitment, the project remains on track to meet its goals. Results from the first two cohorts demonstrate positive retention rates and significant progress in preparing students for their STEM careers. Evaluation data collected through VIA Evaluation has shown that workplace tours, seminar series, and planned guided internships have had a measurable impact on student self-efficacy and career awareness.