EPCC and UTEP seek to empower STEM students

EL PASO, TX – El Paso Community College (EPCC) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have teamed up to create STEMFUERTE, a collaborative initiative that helps EPCC science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students leverage existing campus resources and build a sense of community.

The initiative provides high-quality experiences that strengthen students in their educational pathways and prepare them for employment after completing their associate degrees at EPCC or transferring to UTEP to earn bachelor’s degrees.

A primary effort of STEMFUERTE each semester is to teach an interdisciplinary Systems Thinking/Moon Life module in key Architecture, Biology, and Engineering courses. The project’s co-principal investigators, Clark Myers (Architecture), Glenda Hill (Biology) and Nora Cuvelier (Engineering), teach students to view their disciplines from a systems or holistic thinking approach, focusing on working with students from other disciplines to help humans live on the Moon.

Students form interdisciplinary teams to solve a problem of their choice related to human life on the Moon. Teams usually consist of two students from Architecture, two from Biology and two from Engineering. These students have to learn to communicate across disciplines and solve a problem that is not directly addressed in a textbook.

This type of thinking requires a lot of effort and challenges the students in many ways at the same time. While it is challenging for students to learn to work together, this experience gives them a glimpse of what their lives could be like as true STEM professionals.

The interdisciplinary learning experiences and collaboration throughout the semester culminate in the Lunar Living student poster presentation at the end of each semester. Student teams come together to showcase their efforts in front of Faculty Co-Principal Investigators and special guest judges from UTEP.

STEMFUERTE is an innovative program that is giving EPCC students the skills and experience they need to succeed in STEM careers.