STEM Success is a Federal TRIO SSS (Student Support Services) grant program offered
through the Office of Student Retention at WCU.
TRIO programs support first-generation college students, students from low-income
backgrounds, and students with disabilities. STEM Success specifically supports eligible
undergraduate students in STEM and Health Sciences majors, including students undeclared
with an interest in these fields. Services for program participants include academic
coaching, leadership development, career exposure trips, and more! Learn more about
eligibility and find the application link below.
Eligibility
Currently enrolled undegraduate students of any academic class can receive support
from STEM Success if they are enrolling in a STEM or Health Science major and are
first-generation, low-income, or disabled. All program participants must have an academic
need and will be supported through to their graduation from WCU. Program eligibility
will be determined by STEM Success staff so don't count yourself out! Connect with
us to learn more about the program and your eligibility.
STEM Success - Connect With Us
The STEM Success program application is used to determine a student's eligibility
compared to Federal guidelines and TRIO SSS requirements so it may take some time
to complete! Please be dedicated, answer all questions honestly and to the best of your current
knowledge, and let STEM Success staff know if we can help you with completing the
application.
Interested in finding out more but not ready to commit? Complete this brief interest
survey and our staff will reach out to offer you more information and answer any questions
you might have. You can also make an appointment with us on Navigate to learn more.
Services
STEM Success services include academic coaching, advising, professional development,
FAFSA and scholarship application support, graduate school support, access to academic
learning communities and First Year Experience courses, exclusive career exposure
trips, peer and professional mentoring, and more! Students select beneficial services
with their academic coach upon entry to the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Easy - apply for the program and let us know in your application! If you are interested
in or waiting to apply for a STEM or Health Science major you could be eligible for
the program. If you are thinking of switching your major we can review your eligibility
and start the conversation.
Federal grant aid has very strict qualifications in order for a student to receive
financial assistance, so we made sure to design our budget in a way that directly
benefits program participants. This program offers support from two full-time staff
members, graduate assistants, and student workers in order to provide individual academic
coaching and develop programs and workshops designed to increase retention, graduation,
and post-graduate placement of program participants!
Great question! Once accepted, program participants have exclusive access to career
exposure trips, academic coaching from STEM Success staff, leadership development
opportunities, graduate school preparation, and more. For example, we explored careers
in chemistry, biology, environmental health, and more touring New Belgium Brewing
in Asheville, NC in 2023 and again in 2026.
No problem - once you're in, you're in! We will support you through your entire time
at WCU, all the way through to graduation.
We can help with that! Our office provides supportive services to students, like academic
coaching. If we're not offering the support you're looking for we can refer you to
a specific campus resource that can help you find the exact support you want.
You can find the STEM Success program application linked on this page or contact us
by email or phone for support.
We use the program application to determine student eligibility related to Federal
guidelines, so the application itself can take some time. Please be dedicated, answer
all questions honestly and to the best of your ability, and let a STEM Success staff
member know how we can help you get the application done!
