STEM Boot Camp

STEM Boot Camp (SBC) is directed by UW-Whitewater Biology faculty Dr. Anneke Lisberg and Dr. Stephen Levas. Since 2011, SBC has served underrepresented minority students intending to major in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) entering their freshman year at UW-Whitewater. The STEM Boot Camp consists of an intensive two-week summer camp and continued support through the freshman year aimed at improving student performance and creating a support system. The summer camp runs for two weeks every August.

***NOTE: IN RESPONSE TO HEALTH CONCERNS REGARDING COVID-19, THE SUMMER PORTION OF THE 2020 SBC PROGRAM WILL BE HELD FULLY ONLINE RATHER THAN ON CAMPUS. STUDENTS WILL THEREFORE NOT BE PROVIDED WITH HOUSING OR MEALS THIS YEAR, BUT WILL STILL BE PAID A STIPEND OF UP TO $1000 FOR PROGRAM COMPLETION, WITH THIS PAYMENT OCCURRING IN PART AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE SUMMER PROGRAM AND IN PART AFTER COMPLETION OF THE FALL ACTIVITIES. PAYMENTS ARE BASED ON FULL PROGRAM PARTCIPATION, ENROLLMENT IN FALL CLASSES AT UWW, AND COMPLETION OF PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES. STAY SAFE, WARHAWKS!***

For the 2-week summer portion of the program, 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. During the summer camp, students experience:

Sample lectures provided by UWW faculty, pulled from their introductory courses Face-to-face "office hour" meetings with STEM faculty

Tips, practice, and feedback on essential student's skills

A hands-on lab to explore laboratory course structure

Experience researching and planning scientific experiments Discussions with student mentors, program advisors, and other current STEM students

Overview of campus programs, including undergraduate research and student support programs
Through the freshman year, students attend regular lunches and one-on-one meetings with peer mentors and program advisors.

Students are also required to meet goals that aid students success, such as attending office hours with course instructors. Students participating in SBC are provided full room and board during the 2-week summer program and are paid a stipend of up to $1000, based on completion of program benchmarks (students receive this stipend in two payments: in part after the summer program and in part during the freshman year). The program has regularly received support by grants from the Wisconsin Alliance for Minority Participation and continued support from the UW-Whitewater College of Letters & Sciences.

Program eligibility: You are eligible to apply for SBC if you:

Are attending UW-Whitewater as a new student in the fall semester (of the same year in which you participate in SBC)

Are of a racial or ethnic group considered to be underrepresented in science and engineering by the National Science Foundation (African-American or black, American Indian including Native Alaskan, Hispanic or Latinx, and/or Native Pacific Islander.)

Are interested in or are strongly considering majoring in a science, technology, or mathematical field (biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geology/geography, mathematics, or physics.)

SBC 2020:
Program Dates: Monday August 10 - Friday August 21, 2020
Deadline to Apply:
First round: June 20, 2020. Please apply by this date for preferred/full consideration, as this will allow us to fast-track our first round of acceptances. Applications will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis thereafter.