Guided Pathway for Change: A Multi-Phase Academic Advising Model for STEM Student Success at a Hispanic-Serving Institution

This poster presents a case study from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico–Metro Campus on the implementation of a multi-phase academic advising model designed to improve retention and success among first-year Hispanic and low-income students enrolled in STEM programs. Through the STEM GPA project, a Guided Pathway framework has been institutionalized to provide an integrated, scaffolded experience beginning with a Summer Bridge Academy and continuing through a three-tier academic counseling system embedded in core curriculum courses (General Biology I & II).
The model includes coordinated student distribution among faculty advisors, QR-enabled access to academic and emotional support services, bonus point incentives, and targeted interventions at key points in the semester (initial, midterm, and registration). Early data suggests a positive correlation between participation in academic counseling and semester-to-semester enrollment persistence.
By aligning multiple units—academic departments, professional counseling, student affairs, and peer mentoring—this model exemplifies how coordinated institutional efforts can contribute to systemic change in higher education, particularly in Hispanic-Serving Institutions.