Paid College Student Positions

Join FIRST2 NETWORK on your Campus!

First2 Network recognizes the value of having students at the table to inform decision-makers of problems that need to be addressed to improve STEM student success and to co-create the solutions for those problems. First2 Network builds student leaders to take on this vital role, in part through paid positions.

PURPOSE:

The First2 Network is funded to learn how to help more students be successful in completing a STEM degree, targeted specifically on the first two years in college, since that is the time when most STEM students withdraw. Central to First2 is student voice. The U.S. National Science Foundation has many funding streams for scholarships and summer research programs; First2 was not funded to do these things, but was instead funded to learn how the activities provided can best be offered to support this student success. Students are funded through paid positions to do work on three fronts: to help themselves, to help other STEM students, and to help the network drive institutional learning and change.

FIRST2 STUDENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ELEMENTS: “THE 4C’S”

Co-Mentoring: A reciprocal relationship where two or more individuals provide mutual guidance, support, and learning, sharing their expertise and experiences to help each other grow professionally and personally. Students co-mentor with other students, supervisors, and members of their institutional team.

Career Development: The process of managing and advancing one’s professional growth and career path through skills enhancement, experience, education, and networking.

Content-Area Research: Involves studying specific subject matter or topics within a field to deepen understanding, inform practice, or contribute to the knowledge base of that area.

Community Development: The process of creating and nurturing a sense of belonging and shared identity among individuals within a community, often through engagement, collaboration, and shared activities so that they can come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems, fostering social, economic, and cultural well-being.

*We thank our collaborators at Northern Kentucky University’s TRUE ACCCESS program for this 4C’s framework.

POSITIONS, HOURS AND STIPENDS:

The Student Director position with the First2 Network involves active participation and leadership in meetings, conferences, and outreach activities during the school year with institutional teams, students, and other stakeholders. This role is essential for fostering community, professional development, and the dissemination of improvement science methodologies within the network. Directors work with supervisors to make a customized plan for their work based on the following framework of program elements. 150 hours per semester, minimum.

KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CO-MENTORING: 21+
- Orientation for Students and Supervisors: Attend virtual training for paid student leaders and their supervisors. Orientation and training topics include position descriptions, program orientation, networking, timesheets, scheduling, compliance, and effective supervision training, and offers space for small-group work as well as network-wide training.
- Bi-Weekly Supervision Meeting: Meet with Supervisor at least once every other week (can be virtual) to go over progress and goals.
- Attend Institutional Team Meetings: Student involvement is crucial for the whole institutional team as it brings fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and firsthand insights into student needs and experiences. A student is responsible for attending at least one of these meetings, which fosters a collaborative environment and enhances the relevance and impact of change initiatives. Engaging students ensures that projects are well-aligned with student interests and priorities. This inclusive approach enriches the team’s work, promotes a stronger sense of community, and drives more effective and sustainable outcomes. – 2 hours
- All Hands Meetings (Monthly, Sunday Evening): Prepare for, attend, and actively facilitate a 90-minute monthly All Hands meeting. (Attend at least 3 out of 4 of these meetings/semester.)
- Directors’ Improvement Science Meeting and Directors’ Community-Building Meeting: Attend two one-hour meetings each month from September through April. Students will share learning experiences related to improvement science and change ideas with their institutional teams. The second meeting will focus on community-building exercises and professional development seminars. (Attend at least 75% of each of these meetings/semester.) (Formerly a weekly Directors’ meeting)
Career Development: 25+ hours
- Attend In-Person Leadership Training: Leadership training equips students with essential skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and strategic planning. Driven by the students’ areas of interest, this personalized training enhances their ability to lead initiatives, foster community engagement, and drive positive change. It prepares students for future leadership roles within the First2 Network and their professional careers, providing valuable experience and confidence. – 20 hours
- Complete Power Skills Certification: The Power Skills Certification is a program offered by our partner, the WV Jobs Network and is designed to help job seekers in West Virginia develop and demonstrate essential soft and leadership skills, collectively known as Power Skills. This certification program provides participants with access to online learning modules, coaching, and a digital certification badge, which can be independently verified by employers. The curriculum includes supplementary learning materials, real-time skill improvement opportunities, coaching sessions, and evaluation tools. Participants will also receive a digital credential, enhancing their resumes, social media profiles, and email signatures, making them top candidates for future opportunities. – 1-3 hours/week
- STEM Work Experiences: On-the-job training, including: job shadowing, micro-internship opportunities, engaging with a research lab, exploring research and internship opportunities, and other work experience in STEM. Will also include convening workshops and outreach activities to support Directors, Assistant Directors, and the larger student population (both themselves and others) to prepare applications, apply to, and successfully secure paid workforce training and content area research opportunities.
CONTENT AREA RESEARCH: 38+ hours
- Change Ideas: Initiate, plan, and complete 2 change ideas per semester/campus that are student driven within the institutional team to improve STEM student success (e.g., improving faculty-student relationships, or study sessions). – 20 hours.
- Conferences: Attend and actively participate in one First2 Conference per year. Directors must be involved in a presentation or poster presentation – 16 hours.
- Journal Prompt Response: Reply fully to one journal prompt each semester, detailing your experiences as a student in the network. This information will be used by the evaluation team – 1 hour.
- Anonymous Feedback Forms: Respond to anonymous feedback forms as they occur.
- Optional – Assist Institutional Teams with Educational Research: Provide comprehensive support to Institutional Teams by conducting educational research, assisting with data collection and analysis, and contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based practices and strategies.
Community Building: 30+ hours
- Outreach Events: Plan, prepare for, attend, and actively participate in five approved outreach or learning events for STEM students per semester (examples: community-building, professional development events, career field trips). These can include campus club meetings if open to STEM students. Two of these can be change ideas – 15 hours.
- Ambassador Activities: Participate in one or more ambassador activities on behalf of the First2 Network. This could involve presenting or tabling at a STEM-related conference, participating in a legislative ambassador trip, or delivering a presentation in a high school classroom – 10 hours.
- Meetings with Deans. Meet with STEM Deans once per semester to update them on First2 work and progress.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Commitment to attending and participating in all required meetings and activities. Ability to facilitate discussions and presentations, or a willingness to learn. Strong communication and organizational skills. Interest in improvement science, community building, and professional development. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents, current college students, and be rural, first-generation, or eligible for financial assistance to go to college. Additionally, applicants must be currently enrolled in a STEM major as defined by the West Virginia STEM Scholarship criteria set by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission.

BENEFITS:

Educational stipend of $2700 per semester. At 150 hours of participation, this earning rate is based on $18 per hour. Paid travel to conferences and events, including mileage, food and lodging. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage in meaningful professional development, and contribute to the growth and success of STEM students within the First2 Network community.

The Assistant Student Director position with the First2 Network involves supporting the Student Directors in their leadership roles. This position requires active participation in meetings, conferences, and outreach activities. Assistant Student Directors are expected to learn from the Student Directors through direct involvement and mentorship, preparing them to potentially step into these leadership roles in the future. Assistant Directors work with supervisors to make a customized plan for their work based on the following framework of program elements. 75 hours per semester minimum.

KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CO-MENTORING: 15+ hours/semester
- Orientation for Students and Supervisors: Attend virtual training for paid student leaders and their supervisors. Orientation and training topics include position descriptions, program orientation, networking, timesheets, scheduling, compliance, and effective supervision training, and offers space for small-group work as well as network-wide training. 4 hours?
- Bi-Weekly Supervision Meeting: Meet with Supervisor at least once every other week (can be virtual) to go over progress and goals.
- Attend Institutional Team Meetings: Student involvement is crucial for the whole institutional team as it brings fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and firsthand insights into student needs and experiences. A student is responsible for attending at least one of these meetings, which fosters a collaborative environment and enhances the relevance and impact of change initiatives. Engaging students ensures that projects are well-aligned with student interests and priorities. This inclusive approach enriches the team’s work, promotes a stronger sense of community, and drives more effective and sustainable outcomes. – 2 hours
- All Hands Meetings (Monthly, Sunday Evening): Attend, and actively participate in a 90-minute monthly All Hands meeting. Four meetings will be offered each semester. (Attend at least 3 of 4 meetings.)
- Optional – Directors’ Improvement Science Meeting and Directors’ Community-Building Meeting: Attend two one-hour meetings each month from September through April. Students will share learning experiences related to improvement science and change ideas with their institutional teams. The second meeting will focus on community-building exercises and professional development seminars.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT: 3-40+ hours
- Optional – Attend In-Person Leadership Training: Leadership training equips students with essential skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and strategic planning. Driven by the students’ areas of interest, this personalized training enhances their ability to lead initiatives, foster community engagement, and drive positive change. It prepares students for future leadership roles within the First2 Network and their professional careers, providing valuable experience and confidence. – 20 hours
- Optional – Complete Power Skills Certification: The Power Skills Certification is a program offered by our partner, the WV Jobs Network and is designed to help job seekers in West Virginia develop and demonstrate essential soft and leadership skills, collectively known as Power Skills. This certification program provides participants with access to online learning modules, coaching, and a digital certification badge, which can be independently verified by employers. The curriculum includes supplementary learning materials, real-time skill improvement opportunities, coaching sessions, and evaluation tools. Participants will also receive a digital credential, enhancing their resumes, social media profiles, and email signatures, making them top candidates for future opportunities. – 1-3 hours/week
- STEM Work Experiences: On-the-job training, including: job shadowing, micro-internship opportunities, engaging with a research lab, exploring research and internship opportunities, and other work experience in STEM. Will also include convening workshops and outreach activities to support Directors, Assistant Directors, and the larger student population (both themselves and others) to prepare applications, apply to, and successfully secure paid workforce training and content area research opportunities.
CONTENT AREA RESEARCH: 28+ hours
- Change Ideas: Support Student Directors as they initiate, plan, and complete 2 change ideas per semester/campus to improve STEM student success (e.g., improving faculty-student relationships, or study sessions). –10 to 20 hours.
- Conferences: Attend and actively participate in one First2 Conference per year. Assistant Directors are required to be co-authors on a poster – 16 hours.
- Journal Prompt Response: Reply fully to one journal prompt each semester, detailing your experiences as a student in the network. This information will be used by the evaluation team – 1 hour.
- Anonymous Feedback Forms: Respond to anonymous feedback forms as they occur.
- Optional – Assist Institutional Teams with Educational Research: Provide comprehensive support to Institutional Teams by conducting educational research, assisting with data collection and analysis, and contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based practices and strategies.
COMMUNITY BUILDING: 20+ hours
- Ambassador Activities: Participate in one ambassador activity on behalf of the First2 Network. This could involve presenting or tabling at a STEM-related conference, participating in a legislative ambassador trip, or delivering a presentation in a high school classroom – 10 hours
- Outreach Events: Plan, prepare for, attend, and actively participate in five approved outreach or learning events for STEM students per semester (examples: community-building, professional development events, career field trips). These can include campus club meetings if open to STEM students. Two of these can be change ideas – 5 to 15 hours.
- Meetings with Deans. Meet with STEM Deans once per semester to update them on First2 work and progress.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Commitment to attending and actively participating in all required meetings and activities. Ability to support discussions and presentations, with a willingness to learn facilitation skills. Desire to acquire strong communication and organizational skills. Interest in improvement science, community building, and professional development. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents, current college students, and be rural, first-generation, or eligible for financial assistance to go to college. Additionally, applicants must be currently enrolled in a STEM major as defined by the West Virginia STEM Scholarship criteria set by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission.

BENEFITS:

Educational stipend of $1125 per semester. At 75 hours of participation, this earning rate is based on $15 per hour. Paid travel to conferences and events, including mileage, food and lodging. This position provides a valuable opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage in meaningful professional development, and contribute to the growth and success of STEM students within the First2 Network community.

Summer Student Directors play a crucial role in organizing and executing various onboarding and orientation activities to support new students and institutional team members. This position requires a proactive individual with strong organizational and communication skills to ensure a smooth transition into the academic year. Summer Student Directors work with supervisors to make a customized plan for their work based on the following framework of program elements. 75 hours per summer minimum.

KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CO-MENTORING: 8+ hours
- Weekly Supervision Meeting: Meet with Supervisor at least once a week (can be virtual) to go over progress and goals.
- Campus Welcome Workshops: Schedule and coordinate onboarding/learning sessions for First2 students and other students between the start of the school year and September 15. Topics could include, for example:Time Management, Meeting Your Support Staff, Accessing Tutoring, Demystifying the Professor-Student Relationship
- All Hands Meeting: Design and lead the All Hands introductory meeting scheduled for August.
- Optional – Act as a Mentor/Ambassador for Summer Outreach Initiatives: Serve as a Mentor and Ambassador for summer outreach initiatives, providing guidance and support to participants while actively promoting the program’s goals, benefits, and opportunities to the broader community.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT: 20+ hours
- Complete a Power Skills Course (1 of 3 required for the Power Skills Certification): The Power Skills Certification is a program offered by our partner, the WV Jobs Network and is designed to help job seekers in West Virginia develop and demonstrate essential soft and leadership skills, collectively known as Power Skills. This certification program provides participants with access to online learning modules, coaching, and a digital certification badge, which can be independently verified by employers. The curriculum includes supplementary learning materials, real-time skill improvement opportunities, coaching sessions, and evaluation tools. Participants will also receive a digital credential, enhancing their resumes, social media profiles, and email signatures, making them top candidates for future opportunities. – 1-3 hours/week
- Introduction to STEM Career Area On-the-Job Training: Job Shadowing, micro-internship opportunities, engaging with a research lab, exploring research and internship opportunities. Convening workshops and outreach activities to support Directors, Assistant Directors, and the larger student population (both themselves and others) to prepare applications, apply to, and successfully secure paid workforce training and content area research opportunities
CONTENT AREA RESEARCH: 4+ hours
- Pre-Planning and Pre-Coaching Meetings: Collaborate with the backbone organization and participate in meetings with institutional team members to pre-plan and pre-coach all scheduled change ideas for the semester.
- Optional – Assist Institutional Teams with Educational Research: Provide comprehensive support to Institutional Teams by conducting educational research, assisting with data collection and analysis, and contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based practices and strategies.
COMMUNITY BUILDING: 10+ hours
- Introductory Event Planning: Work alongside the Student Coordinator to plan and execute an introductory event for new institutional team members. Ensure familiarity with navigating essential tools such as the website and Slack.
- Bridge and Orientation Events: Organize and participate in orientation events for new students. Assist with bridge programs and other school orientation activities as needed.
- Student Recruitment: Recruit students to participate in FIrst2, including supporting student recruitment and selection for paid positions, FIrst2 club membership, or participation in a Student STEM Council, or other First2 campus initiatives.

Reporting: In order to receive the final stipend the Director must complete a comprehensive report detailing summer activities, including links to meeting minutes, agendas, planning documents, feedback forms, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities. Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams. Experience in event planning and coordination is advantageous. Familiarity with educational institutions and student support services is preferred. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents, current college students, and be rural, first-generation, or eligible for financial assistance to go to college. Additionally, applicants must be currently enrolled in a STEM major as defined by the West Virginia STEM Scholarship criteria set by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission.

BENEFITS:

Educational stipend of $1350 per summer. At 75 hours of participation, this earning rate is based on $18 per hour. Paid travel to conferences and events, including mileage, food and lodging. This position offers a unique opportunity to significantly impact the student experience by facilitating essential support and orientation activities. Summer Student Directors will gain valuable leadership and project management experience in a dynamic educational setting.

Year Round AmeriCorps Student Directors within the First2 Network play a crucial role in organizing, executing, and mentoring various onboarding, orientation, leadership activities, and community engagement. This position requires proactive individuals with strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills to support new students, institutional team members, and the broader STEM community. Directors work with supervisors to make a customized plan for their work based on the following framework of program elements. 675 hours per service term minimum.

KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CO-MENTORING:
- Orientation for Students and Supervisors: Attend virtual training for paid student leaders and their supervisors. Orientation and training topics include position descriptions, program orientation, networking, timesheets, scheduling, compliance, and effective supervision training, and offers space for small-group work as well as network-wide training.
- Bi-Weekly Supervision Meeting: Meet with Supervisor at least once every two weeks (can be virtual) to go over progress and goals.
- Attend Institutional Team Meetings: Student involvement is crucial for the whole institutional team as it brings fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and firsthand insights into student needs and experiences. A student is responsible for attending at least one of these meetings, which fosters a collaborative environment and enhances the relevance and impact of change initiatives. Engaging students ensures that projects are well-aligned with student interests and priorities. This inclusive approach enriches the team’s work, promotes a stronger sense of community, and drives more effective and sustainable outcomes. – 2 hours
- All Hands Meetings (Sunday Evening): Prepare for, attend, and actively facilitate a 90-minute monthly All Hands meeting. Four meetings will be offered each semester. (Attend at least 3 out of 4 of these meetings each semester, fall and spring.)
- Directors’ Improvement Science Meeting and Community-Building Meeting: Attend two one-hour meetings each month from September through April. Students will share learning experiences related to improvement science and change ideas with their institutional teams. The second meeting will focus on community-building exercises and professional development seminars. (Attend at least 3 out of 4 of each of these meetings/semester.) (Formerly a weekly Directors’ meeting)
- Optional: Campus Welcome Workshops: Schedule and coordinate two to four onboarding/learning sessions between the start of the school year and service term end of August 31, if end of service term allows. Topics include: Time Management, Meeting Your Support Staff, Accessing Tutoring, Demystifying the Professor-Student Relationship
- Optional: Act as a Mentor/Ambassador for summer outreach initiatives: Serve as a Mentor and Ambassador for summer outreach initiatives, providing guidance and support to participants while actively promoting the program’s goals, benefits, and opportunities to the broader community.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT:
- Complete a Power Skills Certification: The Power Skills Certification is a program offered by our partner, the WV Jobs Network and is designed to help job seekers in West Virginia develop and demonstrate essential soft and leadership skills, collectively known as Power Skills. This certification program provides participants with access to online learning modules, coaching, and a digital certification badge, which can be independently verified by employers. The curriculum includes supplementary learning materials, real-time skill improvement opportunities, coaching sessions, and evaluation tools. Participants will also receive a digital credential, enhancing their resumes, social media profiles, and email signatures, making them top candidates for future opportunities. – 1-3 hours/week.
- Attend In-Person Leadership Training: Leadership training equips students with essential skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and strategic planning. Driven by the students’ areas of interest, this personalized training enhances their ability to lead initiatives, foster community engagement, and drive positive change. It prepares students for future leadership roles within the First2 Network and their professional careers, providing valuable experience and confidence. – 20 hours
- STEM Work Experiences: On-the-job training, including: job shadowing, micro-internship opportunities, engaging with a research lab, exploring research and internship opportunities, and other work experience in STEM. Will also include convening workshops and outreach activities to support Directors, Assistant Directors, and the larger student population (both themselves and others) to prepare applications, apply to, and successfully secure paid workforce training and content area research opportunities.
CONTENT AREA RESEARCH:
- Change Ideas: Initiate, plan, and complete 2 change ideas per semester/campus to improve STEM student success (e.g., improving faculty-student relationships, or study sessions). – 20 hours.
- Conferences: Attend and actively participate in one First2 Conference per year. Directors must be involved in a presentation or poster presentation – 16 hours.
- Journal Prompt Response: Reply fully to one journal prompt each semester, detailing your experiences as a student in the network. This information will be used by the evaluation team – 1 hour.
- Anonymous Feedback Forms: Respond to anonymous feedback forms as they occur.
- Pre-Planning and Pre-Coaching Meetings: Collaborate with the backbone organization and participate in meetings with institutional team members to pre-plan and pre-coach all scheduled change ideas for the semester.
- Optional – Assist Institutional Teams with Educational Research: Provide comprehensive support to Institutional Teams by conducting educational research, assisting with data collection and analysis, and contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based practices and strategies.
COMMUNITY BUILDING:
- Outreach Events: Plan, prepare for, attend, and actively participate in five approved outreach or learning events for STEM students per semester (examples: community-building, professional development events, career field trips). These can include campus club meetings if open to STEM students. Two of these can be change ideas – 15 hours.
- Ambassador Activities: Participate in one ambassador activity on behalf of the First2 Network. This could involve presenting or tabling at a STEM-related conference, participating in a legislative ambassador trip, or delivering a presentation in a high school classroom – 10 hours.
- Meetings with Deans: Meet with STEM Deans once per semester to update them on First2 work and progress.
- Introductory Event Planning: Work alongside the Student Coordinator to plan and execute an introductory event for new institutional team members. Ensure familiarity with navigating essential tools such as the website and Slack.
- Orientation Events: Organize and participate in orientation events for new students. Assist with bridge programs and other school orientation activities as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Commitment to attending and actively participating in all required meetings and activities. Ability to facilitate discussions and presentations, or a willingness to learn. Strong communication and organizational skills. Interest in improvement science, community building, and professional development. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents, current college students, and be rural, first-generation, or eligible for financial assistance to go to college. Additionally, applicants must be currently enrolled in a STEM major as defined by the West Virginia STEM Scholarship criteria set by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission.

BENEFITS:

Living allowance of $7,425. This is $322.82 bi-monthly before taxes, and is processed through High Rocks payroll.. Upon successful completion, $2,817.14 federal Segal Educational Award and one-semester WV AmeriCorps Tuition Waiver that can be used at any public West Virginia college or university, undergraduate through graduate degree programs, including professional degrees. Paid travel to conferences and events, including mileage, food and lodging. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop robust leadership skills, engage in meaningful professional development, and contribute significantly to the growth and success of STEM students within the First2 Network community. Year-Round AmeriCorps Student Directors will gain valuable experience in leadership, mentorship, and project management in a dynamic educational setting.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES REFERENCE CHART:

APPLICATION:

To apply for one of these paid student leadership positions with the First2 Network, please use the button below to access our application.

FIRST2 PAID STUDENT POSITION APPLICATION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Can’t complete your minimum requirements? Having trouble?

If you can’t attend a campus club or student statewide meeting, attend another FIrst2 working group meeting. You can watch a recording later if you want to – that’s up to you, but just attend another meeting or two with another First2 group to have that count for all your meetings so you’ll get a chance to build relationships with others and participate in input and decision-making in real time. If you need to watch a meeting later, you can count that time as hours, but it will not count towards your minimum in-person meeting requirement.

If you’re having trouble connecting with First2 activities, reach out to the Student Coordinator for support in making a plan to get on track. If you can’t complete something, you can always propose an alternative and these will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for approval.

ANY requirement that does not work for your specific circumstances can be addressed on an individual basis. Email the student coordinator and suggest an alternative that achieves the same end goal and the student support staff team will review your request. To date, all reasonable alternatives have been approved, so don’t be shy to ask. We know everyone has different things that come up in family and in life.

PROGRAM RATIONALE:

Research and Internships: A key piece of our project is improve STEM students’ STEM identities and professional skills by engaging them in research, immersing them in the professional STEM community early in their academic career.

Ambassador Activities: Another core piece of our grant proposal is to have First2 students serve as ambassadors to other stakeholders – both to their hometowns and to decision-makers in leadership roles. Through Ambassador activities, First2 Network help to drive education and systems change so that all students can be more successful. First2 students do outreach to their hometown high schools to help better prepare potential STEM students from their hometowns to transition to and through STEM degree programs in college, often by sharing their own experience of college, reflection on what in high school prepared them well, what did not prepare them well, and tips for success.. FIrst2 students also meet with college administrators, legislators, and other institutional and state leaders to share their experiences and to share what First2 is learning about how colleges can change so that more students thrive, graduate, and enter a satisfying career in STEM. This also provides a way for First2 students to “pay it forward” with a service activity.

Educational Research and Evaluation: For the network to function and accomplish our goals to improve the STEM ecosystem to double to the graduation rate for all STEM students, we need to maintain professional standards of accountability. One of the main goals of the network is to learn with our students about barriers and solutions, and this work is led by our research and evaluation teams.

Conferences: First2 students have reported that one of the biggest benefits to them in the FIrst2 Network is the personal and professional networking; our conferences are where the majority of this networking happens. Students are also integral voices as we present and reflect together during these convenings, and it is essential to have students at the table to make sure our work is grounded with student realities.

Journals: We need to be able to share student experiences and reflections across the network, with strategic partners, with NSF, and with funders. These experiences should be real and authentic, and capture both successes and challenges. Although we spend time reflecting verbally in conversations, these journal entries are designed to share written insights. They are extremely valuable in network reflection, change, and reporting.

Statewide Student Meetings: Students have reported that knowing the other students across the network and building relationships in statewide student spaces is important to students and to the health of the network. Our statewide student meetings were created to fill this need.

Campus Clubs: Campus Clubs are the main way within First2 to build a supportive social community that includes peers, faculty and others at your school. Our research has shown connections between level of engagement and leadership in First2 activities, and academic persistence. Students who have more interaction with their First2 campus club have been shown to have more input and leadership in the First2 Network. Students with higher engagement in the Network are more likely to persist in their STEM degree programs! Clubs have been an important place where students receive support from older students and staff, and have been critical in supporting students to persist in STEM degrees.