Faculty and students from Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) are partnering with the Hope Center for Student Basic Needs on the INTuitN-STEM Hub project, funded by a five-year, $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The project, formally titled Investigating Non-Tuition Needs Among Community College STEM Students, examines the non-tuition challenges faced by community college STEM students while building a network of institutions focused on addressing student basic needs. 

Jennifer Johnson, CEHD associate dean of student success, serves as principal investigator (PI). Johnson initially joined the team in October 2022 due to her expertise in student support, mentorship and higher education scholarship. She became PI in April 2025. 

MG Hodge, doctoral student in educational psychology, has been deeply involved since fall 2023 as a graduate research assistant. “Over the past two years, I’ve facilitated focus groups and interviews with students from our partner schools, as well as faculty and advisors, to understand not just what resources are available, but how they support students’ non-tuition needs outside the classroom,” Hodge said. She also contributes to publications, presentations and meeting facilitation. 

Nyein Nyein Kyaw Htay, who began her PhD in policy and organizational studies in fall 2025 and also serves as graduate research assistant, shared her research focus: “I’m particularly interested in exploring how institutional policy shapes student experiences. This project’s emphasis on system-level change aligns closely with the work I hope to pursue as a scholar. I expect to contribute through qualitative analysis and literature review work while building my research skills and gaining early PhD experience.” 

The INTuitN-STEM Hub project examines essential student needs, including housing, food security and technology access. “Many community college students experience housing instability or even homelessness,” Hodge said. “Food insecurity is also a major concern, and we look at access to resources like campus pantries.” She added that technology needs, such as laptops and cell phones, are also critical for student success in STEM programs. 

The collaborative team engages in quantitative and qualitative analysis of data and shares reports with a variety of audiences. Co-PI Stacy Priniski leads survey analysis, while Co-PI Leanne Davis leads efforts related to policy implications and cultivates relationships with partner institutions. The project partners with community colleges including Green River College, Minneapolis College, Harold Washington College, St. Paul College, Dallas College, Century College, and continues to add institutional partners. 

Johnson noted, “Our NSF-funded grant falls under the S-STEM category. To be a formal partner, a college must be a community college and already have an S-STEM grant. Beyond our official partners, we have a broader resource network sharing insights with other interested institutions.” 

The INTuitN-STEM Hub project is divided into two main phases. Key findings from the first phase reveal that, even though community colleges offer a more affordable path to higher education, many STEM students face significant barriers. A recent project-affiliated report shows that 62% of STEM majors experience food and/or housing insecurity, with even higher rates among part-time students, Pell grant recipients, students with disabilities, Black and Indigenous students, former foster youth, and students involved with the carceral system. According to the report, among those experiencing insecurity, nearly one in five had not accessed campus resources or public benefits, often because they were unaware of the supports available, and 80% of students who had previously stopped out cited basic needs insecurity as a factor. 

Building on these findings, the second phase of the project will focus on answering critical questions. “We want to understand the specific challenges STEM students face regarding non-tuition expenses like work obligations, family responsibilities and interactions with financial aid,” Johnson explained. “We’re also looking at what programs or practices already exist to support these students and how effective they are. Ultimately, we hope to identify low-cost interventions and policy or system-level changes that can reduce barriers at the institutional, state or federal level.” While focused on the community college setting, answers to these questions will support efforts at Temple University and other institutions expanding resources to meet students' basic needs. 

“One of the biggest benefits [of the project],” Hodge said, “has been becoming a more empathetic educator. Hearing directly from students through interviews, focus groups and the S-STEM Scholars Meetup has been eye-opening. Exercises like asking students what they wish faculty knew really put things in perspective.” 

Johnson added, “I deferred my salary so we could fund two graduate assistants, providing both financial support and hands-on research experience. I’m excited to continue the project and see the contributions they will bring over the next two years.” 

Johnson extended her gratitude to other key team members who ensure key milestones are met, including former PI Jamie Payton, financial administrators Eliza Mongeau, Lia Bairaktaris, and CEHD’s Nikki Parker-Johnson, along with external evaluator Namrata Patel. 

Through this partnership, the INTuitN-STEM Hub project is advancing a holistic understanding of the challenges facing community college STEM students while informing strategies that combine scholarships, institutional support and policy interventions to promote student success.