HSI Institutional Transformation Project Voces (Voices for Organizing Change in Educational Systems)

Florida International University, Miami FL

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program), this Track 3 project aims to transform university practices by integrating student perspectives and experiences into faculty professional development and university operations. Students at HSIs bring a wealth of experiences and come through numerous educational pathways. However, the richness of their experiences is generally an underutilized resource and not integrated into institutional decisions. This project will utilize students' experiences to sustainably improve Florida International University's (FIU) student success through the establishment of a student leadership program, creation of faculty professional development with students as partners, and the development of institution practices and policies that integrate students' perspectives. The expected outcomes of this work include improved student learning and graduation outcomes and a model that can implemented across the nation. The specific aims of the project include creating a resilient institutional change movement that advances STEM opportunities for FIU's student body. Central to the project is the establishment of the STEM Voceros student leadership program allow undergraduates across all STEM disciplines to contribute to systemic improvements to instructional practice and policies at the institution. Participants will engage in faculty professional development and be deployed in STEM classrooms to provide insights on curricula and faculty practice. Student-perspectives will also contribute to the project research on the effectiveness of student-led institutional change models and the project’s impact on students' agency, faculty practices, and institutional structures and processes. The multi-layered design will amplify STEM students’ voices and experiences throughout the instructional practices, research mission and institutional policies and practices. Faculty and university leadership will become reliant on student voice and create the opportunity to re-envision the decision-making norms at FIU. The strategies and outcomes will be disseminated locally to partner institutions as well as nationally through established networks and professional meetings. The HSI Program aims to enhance undergraduate STEM education and build capacity at HSIs. Projects supported by the HSI Program will also generate new knowledge on how to achieve these aims. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.