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To examine the relationship between participation in a research-based, academic first-year seminar (FYS) and the first-year achievement of STEM students, university data sets were collected from four cohorts (N = 2,543) of incoming STEM students of whom 581 were FYS participants over the four years. Chi-square tests of homogeneity were used to compare persistence, and Welch's t-test was used to assess differences in first-term GPA between FYS and non-FYS cohorts by gender, admission status, and first-generation status. Analyses revealed significant differences in one-year persistence (some as much as 13% higher) between FYS and non-FYS participants among all groups excluding females. Additionally, first-term GPA was significantly higher for all FYS STEM students (some as much as 0.4 points higher on a 4.0 scale). Due to these results, participation in a three-credit, research-based academic FYS in the first semester is recommended for STEM majors.

This mixed-methods study served to better widerstand how collaboration between a TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program and a First-Year Seminar (FYS) affects first-generation students ' success during their first year at college. Quantitative analyses assessed differences between non-participants, FYS participants only, and TRIO/FYS participants (N = 2720) in first-term GPA and persistence. Compared to non-participants, TRIO/FYS participants had significantly higher GPAs (2.61 versus 2.S3) and persistence (22% difference). This group also had higher persistence (12% difference) compared to the FYS only participants. Focus groups provided students' voices to share how these programs addressed the challenges faced by first-generation college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students with problems of professional competency (PPC) issues enact a negative toll on proficient students and require increased faculty attention. While there are resources aimed at supporting students with PPC, we will explore proficient students' experience of stress and needed supports as a result of classmates with PPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]