Program Overview

UW-Milwaukee is committed to improving the recruitment, retention, and graduation of underrepresented minorities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) majors. As the UW System institution that enrolls the highest number of underrepresented students in these majors, UW-Milwaukee is proud to be one of the major contributors of science and technology professionals in Wisconsin.

The STEM-Inspire Program offers a pyramid structure, with valuable experiences that build upon one another and serve as the foundation for student success. Our program support, opportunities and experiences are designed to facilitate student success, with the goal of increasing the number of underrepresented minority students who graduate from UW-Milwaukee and pursue careers or graduate/professional schools in STEM fields.  To accomplish this, program scholars are offered the following opportunities:

  • Faculty mentoring sessions
  • Peer mentoring sessions
  • Peer tutoring sessions, if needed
  • Study sessions
  • Conference travel/participation
  • Conference presentation
  • Hands-on research with faculty preceptors
  • Site visits to companies and/or facilities/museums
  • STEM-related seminars & workshops
  • Leadership & professional skills development
  • Internship & other work experiences
  • And much, much more

Listed below are five categories of scholar participation in the program:

  • Participants – These students are paired with a faculty mentor, a peer mentor, and a peer tutor, who will assist them in navigating their way throughout the academic year.  The faculty/peer mentors will also help students on psychosocial, self-efficacy, and research opportunities.  Participants are required to complete a series of peer mentoring handouts related to holistic student success, as well as attending library study nights, STEM and research-related lectures, and other activities.
  • Peer Mentors – These students are paired with a faculty mentor and a peer tutor (if needed) in addition to having the same rights and benefits as the Participants.  Peer Mentors are usually juniors and seniors with a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.  They should show evidences of being able to succeed within a University system, as well as having experiences in conference participation and/or research/professional presentations.
  • Peer Tutors – These students are paired with a faculty mentor and a peer mentor/tutor (if needed) in addition to having the same rights and benefits as the Participants.  Peer Tutors are usually juniors and seniors with a Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better.  They should show evidences of being able to succeed within a University system, as well as having experiences in conference participation and/or research/professional presentations.  Peer Tutors will also be screened by the PASS, and attend its training sessions.
  • Researchers – These students are paired with a faculty mentor, a peer mentor, and a peer tutor (if needed) in addition to having the same rights and benefits as the Participants.  They should maintain a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, and are actively engaged in undergraduate research with faculty preceptors.
  • Library Staff – This student is an upperclassmen who has shown evidence of being able to succeed at the University by earning and maintaining a semester and cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better, and has the ability as evidenced from past leadership or work experiences to successfully monitor and guide students in a group setting. Library Staff supervise weekly Library Study Hall meetings with participants and peer mentors, track attendance and provide updates to students about upcoming WiscAMP programming. This student also benefits from faculty mentoring and all the same rights and benefits of Participants.

The STEM-Inspire Program is a grant project funded and supported by the UW-Milwaukee Division of Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity, UW-Madison Wisconsin Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (WiscAMP, through the NSF LSAMP), and the American Family Insurance Dream Fund.