Since 2016, Wayne State University (WSU) has utilized a tiered, culturally competent approach to support Black male students. WSU is the nation’s fastest-improving university for graduation rates from 27% to 47%. This movement sprouted the commencement of programs and organizations focused on narrowing the student population achievement gap including men of color. Warrior VIP is a program that fosters belonging and community for students through the scholastic support and professional development. The Office of Multicultural Student Engagement centers on diversity and inclusion. A learning community coined The Network, is tailored towards the recruitment, retention and success coaching of Black men. The approach highlighted in this presentation is THE BROTHERHOOD, a student-led organization geared towards undergraduate Black men. This tier of the larger initiative concentrates on social action and student engagement, while encompassing facets of academic, social and emotional wellness. Through empowerment, identity, mentoring, and community, THE BROTHERHOOD aims to avail minority males to become successful college students today and future leaders of tomorrow.

Credit card debt, student loans and budgeting are familiar struggles for most university students working part/full-time jobs. Most college students are not ready to make good financial choices. Financial literacy is defined as the understanding and effective use of varied skills including budgeting, investing and financial management. Introducing financial literacy to college students can help them mitigate risks and focus on studies with maximum return within their classes. College students, especially first-generation ones, face numerous additional challenges such as “helping family needs” and “cultural language. Sources of support include financial literacy workshops and financial aid specialists such as Educational Opportunity Program. Overall, students need to maximize financial aid and scholarships before taking on loans and additional credit card debt. Safe fintech application use must include behavioral knowledge as well as common heuristics in Peer-to-peer lending. Peer-to-peer lending is a process for individuals to borrow from strangers online without a middleman. Interest rates are competitive compared to credit card rates, attracting investors. Loan applications are open to lender bets for two weeks and include loan size, purpose, repayment conditions and the credit rating allocated. Criteria such as a bank account, a social security, and minimum FICO score are required. Strong financial literacy skills can help students manage their money wisely in order to minimize borrowing or perhaps become an investor through any peer-to-peer lending platform. In addition, we need to be aware of international differences in regulation and markets to choose the most advantageous options.

In March 2020, colleges and universities around the world abruptly transitioned from in-person teaching to emergency remote teaching. This change gave faculty a few weeks, or less, to alter their teaching methods to accommodate remote learning for the rest of the semester, and minimal time to adjust for the following school year. The purpose of this case study is to examine how one engineering faculty member responded to this change in teaching format through a lens of adaptability. This case study focuses specifically on how their emotions, conversations, resources, successes, and challenges changed over the course of remote instruction, and provides context for these changes. Data was collected from faculty surveys across the Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 semesters, as well as from interviews throughout those same semesters to gain an overall perspective on their experiences, as well as how they adapted over time. The data was coded deductively for cognitive, behavioral, and emotional adaptability to experiences and descriptive quotes are included. Cognitive and behavioral adaptability illustrate an ability to regulate the way one thinks and acts, respectively, in new situations. Rich descriptions of the context for faculty adaptability over time are presented and discussed. Developing a holistic understanding of the way engineering faculty experienced teaching during the pandemic is vital for the creation of faculty support systems at institutions of higher learning. This case study helps to lay the groundwork for understanding the future of engineering education in periods of new, changing, or uncertain circumstances.