College of Letters and Sciences

STEM Boot Camp

A science-based pre-college program

Are you planning on studying a STEM-related program — science, engineering, technology, math, computer science or a related field — in college and looking for a pre-college program that will jump-start your academic career?

STEM Boot Camp is an immersive two-week summer camp for incoming UW-Whitewater students who have social, educational, and economic barriers to a career in STEM. It is held on campus during August and continues to support students through their first year.

Unlike most pre-college programs in Wisconsin, STEM Boot Camp is not only free — it pays a generous stipend to support scholars, many who rely on summer income. SBC also pays off financially by greatly reducing course failures and smoothing the path to graduation.

SBC students have significantly increased course pass rates and graduation rates and have made meaningful contributions to the campus community. Our alumni have gone on to attend competitive research and graduate programs, and to work in diverse science fields.

WHAT OUR PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE

Take a look at our program — inside and outside of the classroom — to get an idea of what to expect and whether STEM Boot Camp is a good fit for you.

A faculty member teaches at the front of a class.

Learning from STEM faculty members

UW-Whitewater faculty come to the SBC classroom to share sample lectures that are pulled from their introductory courses. This gives students a chance to anticipate what college lectures will be like, practice taking notes, and experience sample quizzes. It also lets them meet many of the professors they may eventually have in the classroom — and even do undergraduate research with!

A preview of campus spaces

Students in the SBC program get two weeks in August to familiarize themselves with all aspects of campus — from the residence halls and the dining halls to the classrooms they will be learning in — before more than 10,000+ students arrive for the fall semester.

Setting students up for campus success

During SBC we not only introduce students to science-related academic programs, we spend significant time covering the challenges that every undergraduate student meets, especially students in STEM-related programs.

Students participate in discussions with student mentors, program advisors, and other faculty about college experiences, common challenges for freshman students, and how students can avoid and successfully respond to these challenges.

2023 STEM Boot Camp participants

Front row, from left: Mina de Araujo, biology major from Madison, Jordan Jackson, cybersecurity major from Milwaukee, and McHenry Nchekwaram, information technology major from Milwaukee.

Back row from left: Fatoumatta Kambi, biology major from Cottage Grove, Jacyn Stockton, mathematics major from Fort Atkinson, Savion Heaston-Stewart, computer science major from Milwaukee, Lex Marechal, computer science major from Milwaukee, and Honey Cawthorn, a criminology major and SBC peer mentor from Whitewater.

Participants have fun outside of class, too

While they are on campus, SBC students get to know one another as they enjoy a variety of social activities planned by their peer mentors — movies, bowling, a bonfire, dorm room decorating, for example — in addition to their classroom work.

About the pre-college camp

For the two-week program in August, students live on campus and attend daily classes, seminars and discussions aimed at increasing preparedness for college STEM courses and discussing common student concerns and challenges. The students are also matched with peer mentors, all successful alumni of the program. Lodging, food and any materials are provided free of charge.

During the summer camp, students experience:

Sample lectures provided by UW-Whitewater faculty, pulled from their introductory courses.
Face-to-face "office hour" meetings with multiple STEM faculty members.
Tips, practice, and feedback on essential student skills, with an emphasis on effective note-taking, studying, and adapting to varied teaching and testing methods.
A hands-on lab to explore laboratory course structure.
Researching and planning scientific experiments with other students.
Discussions with student mentors, program advisors, and other faculty about college experiences, common challenges for freshman STEM students, and how students can avoid and successfully respond to these challenges.
An overview of campus programs, including undergraduate research and student support programs.

Ongoing support

Through the fall of their first year, SBC students attend one-on-one meetings with peer mentors and program advisors. Students are also required to meet goals that aid student success, such as attending office hours with course instructors.

All SBC students are also invited to attend weekly lunch hours through the academic year to connect (or stay connected!) with the SBC community. Lunches are often attended by program directors, peer mentors, and program alumni, including previous SBC participants and graduates.

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in SBC, students must:

Be enrolled (or planning to enroll) as a freshman at UW-Whitewater for the upcoming fall semester. We also welcome applications from students who have been accepted but have not yet committed to be a Warhawk.
Have social, educational, or economic barriers to a career in STEM.
Be interested in a career in the sciences or other STEM-related programs like biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, math, data analytics or physics. We welcome undecided majors, too, if you are interested in science careers in general but haven’t picked your path yet!

If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact us.

To apply

Applying is easy. Applications are accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis until the program is filled, so earlier applications will have the best odds of acceptance. On the application form you will be asked to provide your contact information, your current GPA, your intended major(s), and your reason(s) for applying to the program. You’ll also be asked to describe any social, educational, and/or economic factors that may represent barriers to STEM programs or pathways for you.

Apply now

What our students say

Don’t take it from us — meet some of the students who have participated in the program since it was established in 2011.

Pontian Adogamhe

Pontian Adogamhe is a 2015 SBC participant from Whitewater who majored in chemistry and minored in biology. Pontian conducted undergraduate research, made the Dean’s List eight times, and won a national Goldwater Foundation recognition. He is now studying in a Ph.D. program.

“The early exposure provided by SBC to college-level activities prepared me for the rigor of collegiate education, and how to adapt to challenging situations.”

Skyler Wilson

Skyler Wilson is a biology major from Chicago who participated in the program in 2017. On campus she conducted undergraduate research and was on the Dean’s List. Since graduating in 2021, she’s earned a master’s degree in sustainability science and now works as a safety, health, and environmental coordinator.

“STEM Boot Camp really is where my college career started. Being a first-generation college student, I had no idea what to expect from college. STEM Bootcamp set me up for success."

Kyla Smith

Kyla Smith, a biology major from Sun Prairie, participated in the program in 2018. On campus she was on the Dean’s List, received scholarships and grants, served as a peer mentor and was a member of the Mixed Race Student Union. Since graduating in 2022, she’s been enrolled in a Master of Science in Environment and Resources program at UW-Madison.

"Going into the fall of my freshman year, I felt confident in successfully completing my first semester. Expectations through STEM Boot Camp kept me on top of my academics.”

Ana Pemberton

Ana Pemberton is a 2016 SBC participant from Beloit who majored in biology and minored Spanish. On campus, Ana conducted undergraduate research, made the Dean’s List seven times, was a scholarship recipient, and worked as a resident assistant. After graduating in 2020, Ana worked at City Year and is currently working in environmental and food justice programs.

“The connections I’ve made in STEM Boot Camp are long-lasting. SBC gave me the resources to prepare myself for my undergraduate career.”

Erinn Bell

Erinn Bell is a biology major from Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, who participated in the SBC program in 2020. On campus she was a McNair Scholar, received multiple scholarships and conducted undergraduate research. She was accepted to the master’s program at the University of Delaware School of Marine Science and Policy for the fall of 2024.

“Being part of SBC during my freshman year was a great decision. STEM Boot Camp gives you amazing mentors and like-minded friends/peers and shows you different possibilities during your time at UWW and with your career.”

About UW-Whitewater’s STEM Boot Camp

Since 2011, SBC has served incoming UW-Whitewater students with social, educational, or economic barriers to a career in STEM.

SBC is supported through a combination of funds from the Wisconsin Alliance for Minority Participation, the Marjorie K. Wilson STEM Boot Camp Endowment, the UW System Bridge Expansion grant and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Students participating in SBC are provided full room and board during the two-week summer program. Participants who hit program benchmarks will be paid up to $1,000 for successful program completion: students receive part of this payment after the summer program is completed and the remaining portion after the freshman fall semester.