Boise State University’s College of Engineering received a $1.16 million grant from the National Science Foundation under its Broadening Participation in Engineering Program. The grant supports the college’s Systemic Transformation to Foster Inclusion and Belonging in Engineering Recruitment and Retention initiative, or FIBERR.
The initiative spans two years and is based within the college’s Micron Student Success Center. With an emphasis on community building, the initiative’s focus aligns closely with the NSF’s goal of addressing workforce shortages in engineering by ensuring historically underserved populations, including rural, Hispanic/Latinx, pell grant-eligible, and first-generation students, have access to quality STEM education.
In the College of Engineering at Boise State, over 35% of students are first-generation college students and over 30% have transferred from other institutions to seek their baccalaureate degree.
“We are incredibly proud to receive this grant from the National Science Foundation to support our commitment to improving educational access and fostering student success at Boise State,” Dean JoAnn S. Lighty said. “We aim to transform the engineering experience and ensure all students have every opportunity to thrive. This initiative supports our efforts to address critical workforce shortages, but also strengthens the community within our college.”
The grant is led by Dean JoAnn Lighty, with co-investigators Adriana Facundo, Don Plumlee, Katherine Wright (University of Oregon) and the team’s lead evaluator Elizabeth Litzler (University of Washington). Grants awarded under the Broadening Participation in Engineering Program require engineering deans to lead the project. The grant is one of only four awarded on its track this year.
Student-Centered Transformation
At its core, FIBERR takes a student-centered approach, placing students at the heart of Boise State’s effort to broaden participation in STEM disciplines. The program’s mission is to foster a sense of belonging and engineering identity among students in the College of Engineering.
FIBERR will support students by implementing key strategies, such as creating pathways for community college students, student-centered teaching practices, and creating a community of collaboration and support within and beyond the college.
“I’m thrilled for the opportunities this funding will provide for our Micron Student Success Center as we continue building upon our work in creating an environment where students’ needs are centralized as we reimagine the access points they take to a degree in the College of Engineering,” said Micron Student Success Center Director and co-PI Adriana Facundo.
One of the critical elements of the FIBERR initiative is a focus on embedding user-experience design practices in re-envisioning the college’s student recruitment and academic pathways processes. By demystifying engineering and computer science education pathways, FIBERR aims to create a more accessible and navigable experience for prospective students. The College of Engineering seeks to remove the barriers that may prevent students from entering and thriving in STEM fields.
Enhancing Collaboration, Transforming Idaho
In addition to its impact on Boise State, FIBERR is expected to have broader effects on Idaho’s higher education system. Through collaborations with institutions like the College of Southern Idaho and College of Western Idaho, FIBERR will support smoother transitions for transfer students entering the College of Engineering.
The initiative will contribute to the development of best practices that can be shared with other institutions to build more inclusive and equitable STEM programs.
Beyond Boise State
FIBERR’s long-term goal is to close the growing gap in the engineering and computer science workforce. As the demand for skilled professionals in these fields continues to rise, it is crucial to tap the talent and potential of historically underrepresented groups.
By fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment, Boise State’s College of Engineering will help ensure that more students from diverse backgrounds can succeed in STEM disciplines and contribute to the future workforce.
-by Jamie Fink