Wednesday, October 20
2:30 – 2:45 pm It Takes a Village (or Network): Learning in First2
Watch the Zoom recording here!
Gay Stewart: Eberly Professor of STEM Education, Professor of Physics, Director of Center for Excellence in STEM Education, West Virginia University
In working to understand how to ensure all students who would like to pursue STEM careers have the opportunity to succeed in that pursuit, and that more students have the opportunity even to see STEM as a potential future, we have identified some of the obstacles and we have found that many institutions have parts of the solution. The First2 Network seeks to help pull the pieces together to improve student success.
2:45 – 3:25 pm Examining Social Hierarchies to Understand the Experiences of First-Generation and Underrepresented Students
Watch the Zoom recording here!
Virginian a Black-owned and led news organization developed to address the
information gap within West Virginia. Her work centers on Black voices in
Appalachia.
Moderator/Host: Crystal Good
Panelists:
- Josiah Baker: West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering
- Alisha Joseph: Marshall University, Junior, Cyber Forensics & Security
- Ashlea Krasňanský: Marshall University, Junior, Mathematics & Physics
- Jasmine Lafferty: University of Charleston, Senior, Biology with Biomedical Sciences Concentration
- Garrett Bender: West Virginia University, Sophomore, Biology
Moderated/Hosted by Crystal Good with First2 Network Student Directors as they remember the trailblazers of the past, share their personal stories of the present, and imagine a future with equity for all. This session will engage the virtual conference audience with an online activity.
3:25 – 3:50 pm Integrating Co-requisite Math for STEM Student Success
Watch the Zoom recording here.
CUTRIGHT 
SMITH
Lindsey Cutright: Coordinator of Math Support, Instructor of Mathematics, Fairmont State University
Amanda Smith: Instructor of Mathematics, Math Support, Fairmont State University
Attendees will be given an overview of Math Support at Fairmont State. Developmental math courses have been replaced with co-requisite and accelerated learning models. All students can now progress through gateway courses within their first year, regardless of test scores. Gateway courses are offered with additional support to aid students in learning and understanding and fill in any gaps. Fairmont State was one the first colleges in WV to offer these services at full-scale. Initial data reports show students who took a Math Support course completed the course successfully at the same rate as students in non-support courses.
3:50 – 4:15 pm Overview of First2 Network’s Campus Clubs
RIO 
ENRIQUEZ
RAI 
LOWE
Rita Rio: West Virginia University, Professor of Biology & Oscar Enriquez: West Virginia University, Sophomore, Forensics and Investigative Science
Sanish Rai: Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer Science & Information Systems WVUIT & Elizabeth Lowe: First2 Student Director, WVUIT
A broad overview of the WVU and WVUIT First2 clubs including campus club recognition, student member demographics, overall objectives and how first generation college student needs are to be addressed.
4:30 – 5:30 pm Strengthening Connections to Reshape the Narrative
Moderator: Sarah Riley, High Rocks Educational Corporation
Together we can improve STEM persistence and graduation for first-generation and underrepresented students in West Virginia. In this session, we will reflect together on key insights from this convening and connect on how to move this important work forward.
Questions?
Contact Madge Vosteen, mvosteen@nrao.edu.