Furman STEM Mentors
Started in Fall 2008 (as one of four HHMI sponsored outreach initiatives), the Furman STEM Mentors program provide a structure for Furman science majors to connect with teacher-selected middle school students whose “potential is outweighed by circumstance”. In Fall 2008, 18 STEM majors mentored 22 students at
Hughes Academy [a public, STEM-focused urban magnet school serving > 60% underrespresented minority (URM) students] in 1:1 one-hour, gender-matched weekly sessions. From this core, Furman STEM Mentors has ascended as Furman’s hallmark STEM service-learning program, receiving statewide recognition in 2010 (Commendation of Excellence,
South Carolina Commission on Higher Education).
Since Fall 2008, over 225 Furman mentors have participated, recording 1400 contact hours through Spring 2011; nearly 60 Furman students participated in Fall 2011 (the largest group to date). With increased participation, the program has expanded to two additional middle schools (
Legacy Charter and
Berea Middle) both serving a URM base with poverty indices > 90%. In Fall 2012, a small group of students are also working with Middle School students at the
Frazee Dream Center in downtown Greenville. Since 2010, we have also linked Furman
Engaged! to this program by inviting our mentees (for most, the first time to visit a college campus) for a great day at Furman (see photo below).
While we hold a recruiting meeting in Kohrt Commons at the start of both fall and spring semesters, feel free to contact the program coordinator (John Kaup) at any time with questions and/or download and complete the two forms below and bring them by to sign up and get started. Our office suite is located in the basement of Townes (South) - Suite 071.