Bridging the Gap: A Research Evaluation of a High School to Post-Secondary Preparatory Program for At-Risk and Underrepresented Groups

Mathstronauts’ NEXUS Program is a 12-week program in which grade 11 and 12 students from underrepresented groups gain fundamental technical skills in the areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and soft skills (time management, note taking, etc.) to support their transition into post-secondary education. To investigate the impact of this intervention, our intern will use surveys and focus groups to identify the feasibility of the program in an online format, the short-term impacts of this program on the technical and soft skills of participants, and the long-term impacts of the program on post-secondary attitudes and decisions six-months after program completion. These assessments will contribute to a final NEXUS Program report which will be used by Mathstronauts to inform future improvements on the program. Additionally, the report will be a tool for school boards, community organizations, and research institutions to make similar programs widely accessible to students.

Faculty Supervisor:

Karen Robson

Student:

Alexandra Pulchny

Partner:

Mathstronauts

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

McMaster University