By: Fatima Danazumi, Ethan Ohm, and Richard Noh Our idea All Amherst students have at some point struggled to get help when they’re confused about something in class. Sometimes they’re too busy, too shy, or even sick and can’t make it to office hours. Even when students do have time, they may hesitate to attend…
HSTEM 2025 Project by Juli Keiper The goal of this HSTEM project is to examine the benefits of implementing more direct lines of communication between students and professors in the form of short-term learning reflections and mid-semester reflections. Short-term learning reflections, such as weekly reflections or one-minute sheets, can help students reflect on their own learning and can…
This is the most recent syllabus used by Amherst HSTEM class of 2425 spring. This syllabus is a living document that will undergo augmentation and development in conversation with the HSTEM students to best suit their learning goals. …
We explored the evolution of equity and inclusion at Amherst College from the Amherst Uprising in 2015 to the present day, using past HSTEM projects as a framework. We identified five recurrent themes and have highlighted past student projects that address these themes. Join us in envisioning how collaboration with campus partners can enhance the experience of Being Human at Amherst College!…
This two week long (10 days) condensed version of the HSTEM course will focus on collaborative research to improve the STEM undergraduate research environment and will be conducted by SURF (Summer Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship) students….
Article that discusses lessons learned and recommendations for diversity and inclusion efforts in higher education, both in and beyond STEM, emphasizing the power of an initiative that was originated by and remains driven by student partners….
This article examines the importance of integrating humanistic approaches within STEM fields to foster inclusive and equitable learning environments. It explores how humanism can be applied across various levels of the STEM ecosystem, including classrooms, non-classroom spaces, institutions, and cultural norms, to enhance student engagement and success….
A workshop with case studies created by the HSTEM 2016 student cohort to help participants understand that diversity in STEM is essential; that aspects of our identity whether race, gender, sexual preference, socioeconomic status, and previous academic background make each student unique. We need to recognize that we all come into learning space with biases and assumptions that affect the way we teach and learn. …
Inclusive practices in STEM for lecture and the laboratory (that work for ALL disciplines!) HSTEM began as a special topics course in the spring of 2016 with the goal of understanding and enhancing the STEM climate at Amherst College. Building on three semesters of HSTEM student efforts, a group of faculty and staff put together…
The HSTEM reading list grows and evolves over time with each iteration. HSTEM values the unique expertise and experiences of its facilitators, who bring their human selves and interests into the classroom. As a result, the reading list has taken an interdisciplinary approach, as exemplified by this 2024 reading list, which was created by Zac Watson ’24, Dr. George Abraham, and Dr. Jaswal….