The SSU Sonoma Mountain Connection (SMC) project, as part of a larger proposal to the Koret Foundation, has been awarded $1 million over 4 years. SMC is a program for STEM students with the aim to reduce the dropout rate for first-time, first-year STEM majors by giving them outdoor research experiences. The program started in Fall 2020 with a cohort of first year Biology students. It will expand in Fall 2021 to include a cohort of computer science majors.
The CS department hopes to adapt the successful SMC program piloted by the Biology department, for its students: crafting a relevant research immersion experience drawing from resources at the Fairfield Osborn Preserve, cohorting program students in major classes and labs, and enrichmnent experiences through a set of parallel seminar courses. Dr. Shubbhi Taneja heads the CS subcommittee leading this SMC project expansion to include CS majors.
For more information, see the Sonoma Mountain Connection website. To express your interest in being a part of this program, email smc@sonoma.edu.