NORC at the University of Chicago is serving as the independent evaluator for the Business-Higher Education Forum’s (BHEF) Undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Interventions with Industry (USI2) consortium project through funding from the
National Science Foundation. The USI2 consortium is composed of institutions of higher education and industry partners to implement high-impact practices (i.e.,
summer bridge programs, mentorship, and capstone courses) in academic programs designed to increase STEM student persistence and completion.
NORC researchers are examining how industry–higher education partnerships can be effective in increasing student persistence and graduation in STEM. The consortium partners are:
- Miami Dade College and NextEra Energy
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and The Water Council
- Washington University in St. Louis and University of Missouri-St. Louis and Boeing
- Northeastern University and IBM
- City University of New York and IBM/Weather Underground
NORC is assessing both qualitative data (via site visits) and quantitative data (via student surveys, academic performance data, program data, and other administrative records) that not only evaluates each of the five sites in the consortium but also helps to shape their development.
Related Reading
Read about the BHEF USI2 consortium project on NORC's blog,
Sparks.
