About STEM Comm

"Sessions where panels of speakers came to class were the best. Being able to ask professionals and students who have gone through the same experience as we are now going through is extremely helpful and motivational."

STEM Comm is for students who are:

interested in majors related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
taking an introductory science or math course that offers a community
eager to participate in a diverse and inclusive learning community
interested in building relationships with mentors

"The community was the best thing about STEM Comm. This has not only helped us in our courses but in our personal lives as well."

STEM Comm is about

1. Working together to succeed

You will attend a weekly study group with your community. Our study groups are led by trained peer facilitators at the Science Learning Center or Engineering Learning Center. In your study group, you will review course material, solve practice problems, and gain a better understanding of course concepts. You will sign up for your study group times at the beginning of the semester.

STEM Comm students use a group chat to help each other with homework problems and laboratory assignments, make plans to study together, catch up with missed work when they miss class, and get together for dinner and campus events.

2. Connecting with caring mentors

You will have the opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with a faculty mentor and success coach who care about you and your success. Your mentor and coach are eager to help you make the most of your time at Michigan. They will work with you as partners, providing guidance and support to help you clarify and pursue your academic, career, and life goals.

3. Empowering your future

Led by your faculty mentor and success coach, the community seminar will feature guest speakers, activities, field trips, and discussions to help you:

develop the tools you need to succeed in STEM courses, majors, and careers (such as developing course-specific learning strategies, setting and tracking goals, networking, adopting a growth mindset, combating test anxiety, managing perfectionism, and more!)
inspire your STEM path by learning from interactive panels of advanced undergraduates, graduate and medical students, and faculty in cross-disciplinary STEM fields
use academic and career resources at U-M to take ownership over your learning and future

This seminar will not have lengthy academic reading or exams. It is a discussion-based, community-building, and skill-building experience. You will engage in self-directed learning opportunities like setting goals for the semester and attending a campus event.

Please note that the seminar is not an extension of the course content (e.g., chemistry or physics). Although we will discuss learning strategies to succeed in the course, the seminar is not exclusively dedicated to course review and practice problems. This is the purpose of our weekly community study groups.

5. Putting it all together

By spending time together in these learning contexts, we will build an inclusive learning community that helps all students learn and grow, both academically and personally. We will build understanding across differences and leverage our strengths to help all students pursue their academic, career, and life goals.

STEM Comm is different from other learning communities

We are one of almost a dozen learning communities at the University of Michigan.

In many learning communities, students live together. In STEM Comm, students take a course together along with a study group and community success seminar. Unlike many of the residential communities, you can participate in STEM Comm no matter where you live.

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