The STRONG Program: Science and Technology Research Opportunities for a New Generation

STRONG scholars will move into their residences one week before first-year orientation. During this time, scholars will build community with each other and their peer mentors before the other first-years arrive on campus. Additionally, STRONG scholars get a head start on making connections with the people on campus who will be there to support them throughout their years at Oberlin. Relationships with the students, professors, and staff members whom Scholars meet through STRONG form an important foundation of support for academic and personal success during their time in college. 

During winter term, each STRONG scholar will work full time in a research group on a project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. These projects will be specially designed to meet the needs and academic preparation of first-year STEM students. The winter term projects designed for the STRONG program will center students’ learning of research and give them valuable experience. 

Social climate and support networks outside the classroom are critical to student persistence in STEM. The “Roots in STEM” living and learning community seeks to address this issue by promoting a sense of belonging and community in STEM amongst students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the sciences and their friends and allies. Students committed to supporting belonging and diversity in STEM learn together as scientists while building community and connections across cultures. This living and learning community will help STRONG Scholars and residents from all backgrounds to grow their “Roots in STEM.” This learning community is open to all students who are interested in developing relationships within a dedicated STEM community. 

STRONG scholars will be enrolled in a specially designed first-year seminar entitled “Research and Reasoning: The production and application of knowledge in STEM.” This course will examine the research process in STEM including data generation, analysis, graphing, interpretation, and presenting. The course seeks to develop students’ skillsets in quantitative and formal reasoning, reading and critiquing the scientific literature, and oral and written communication. The course description is below:

Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) provides enormous contributions to our understanding of the world and offers advancements in health, technology, interactions with the environment, and many other applications. This course will examine the production and application of knowledge in STEM fields including the research process, methodology, and the ethical conduct of research in various fields. Additionally, students will improve their ability to read and critically evaluate STEM literature, analyze and interpret quantitative data, and communicate in both written and oral forms.

The STRONG LEAD course helps first-year students use Oberlin’s academic and developmental advising system to its full potential and assists students as they: (1) acclimate to college learning, (2) use institutional resources for holistic support, (3) navigate college life, and (4) create an educational pathway that connects past and present curricular and co-curricular experiences to goals for their future. STRONG scholars will participate in a specialized version of this experience that is tailored to the needs of students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in STEM to best support them as they adjust to life at Oberlin.

Scholars will meet with peer-mentors in groups of four once per week for the duration of the academic year. These groups will help to develop study skills and habits that are essential for success in STEM such as note taking, studying, test taking, making use of office hours, etc. Additionally, groups will work on more global skills such as time management, organization, and planning. Lastly, peer-mentoring groups will address important issues such as imposter syndrome, stereotype threat, and identity formation to foster STRONG Scholars' resilience and growth.

STRONG scholars are eligible for $1500 (pre-tax) to enrich their academic experience during their first two years at Oberlin. Awards are provided to STRONG scholars based on financial need. This money can be used towards textbooks, conference or workshop travel, housing for an off-campus winter term project or internship, etc.