Comprehensive Support for STEM Students with Learning Disability (CS3LD) will use a multi-level approach to broaden participation and achievement of undergraduate students with LD in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). CS3LD is grounded in Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which posits that a student?s knowledge and beliefs, together with the university environment, influence necessary behaviors for academic success and overall health/well-being. CS3LD will facilitate development of positive self-efficacy through activities that will increase knowledge and personal skills, foster interpersonal relationships, and leverage institutional supports. CS3LD creates a multi-level (personal, interpersonal and institutional) model for supporting success of students with LD in STEM. Implementation and evaluation of theCS3LD model will be rigorously documented and reported so that it can be replicated on other campuses and potentially applied to other disability groups across the country. Utilization of a Continuous Improvement Model (CIM) will enable project responsiveness and ensure that objectives are being met. Traditional models address the factors impacting students with learning disabilities in isolation, while this model integrates personal, interpersonal, and institutional level factors. Findings have the potential to advance knowledge and understanding in the fields of STEM, higher education, and disability studies.
