SSA is a grant-funded initiative that focuses on expanding and diversifying the pipeline of students interested in STEM careers; improving retention, graduation, and transfer rates by providing support and resources to help students succeed; and helping STEM students develop the skills needed to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce.
“As an international student, navigating the college experience and professional landscape can be challenging. However, the STEM Starter Academy at MassBay has been instrumental in not only addressing these challenges but also in optimizing my overall journey. The program’s comprehensive approach, including career coaching that opens doors to valuable internships, attentive academic advisors who ease the workload and optimize class setups, and a mentor program that sharpens my networking skills, has been transformative.”
— A.S., Computer Science student
SSA serves 250+ students a semester. If you decide to enroll in one of MassBay’s STEM degree programs, SSA will be there for you throughout your journey at MassBay.
The STEM Starter Academy Summer Program (SSASP) is a FREE, two-week summer program for incoming STEM students. This program has been offered since 2017 and serves 30-40 students each summer. If you complete the program, you may receive a stipend and have the chance to join the STEM Coaching Program during the academic year.
STEM Starter Academy Flyer 2025 →
Select students in the STEM Starter Academy Coaching Program receive personalized coaching from a dedicated STEM Coach. Your Coach will serve as your main point of contact, helping you with:
"My STEM Coach has been a pillar of support and has been the person that I go to when I have nowhere else to go. Any issue with a class or teacher, she would be there to help me figure out a solution. Since I have been in the world of STEM, I have realized how grateful I am to have a STEM Coach. She was a major reason in the success that I have had at MassBay."
-A.S. Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity Certificate student
STEM students can take advantage of various mentoring opportunities at MassBay or through external programs. You’ll be paired with a mentor working in a field related to your STEM major, who can assist you with:
STEM students are assigned a dedicated STEM Academic Advisor who provides personalized support with:
Your STEM Academic Advisor has specialized expertise in STEM Associate Degree and Certificate programs and works closely with Deans of Advising and STEM to align course schedules with your needs.
"I am truly grateful for the invaluable guidance and support my Academic Advisor has provided throughout my academic journey. Their expertise and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping my academic pursuits. Their insightful advice and mentorship have not only enhanced my academic experience but have also empowered me to overcome challenges and strive for excellence. From transfer meetings to long calls to the college board to get my AP scores from their archives, they have always been attentive and available while inspiring me to double major in Computer Science and Math and establish my own club, STEM For All."
-A.S. Computer Science and Math student
The STEM Career Development Counselor at MassBay helps students develop career goals and take steps to achieve them. Services include:
Connections to internal and external resources and programs
"While the entire staff and faculty at MassBay have been exceptional, the one person who has been instrumental in my success has been my MassBay SSA Career Counselor! She has helped me immensely through all aspects of my program—guiding me in course selections, coordinating with my professors, assisting me in finding and getting my final internship approved, resume, and providing me with resources and references for placement post-graduation. I will always appreciate her mentorship and her support."
"While the entire staff and faculty at MassBay have been exceptional, the one person who has been instrumental in my success has been my MassBay SSA Career Counselor! She has helped me immensely through all aspects of my program—guiding me in course selections, coordinating with my professors, assisting me in finding and getting my final internship approved, resume, and providing me with resources and references for placement post-graduation. I will always appreciate her mentorship and her support."
- A.S Cybersecurity student
SSA plans and facilitates STEM Forums and Events throughout the academic year to supplement the learning you receive in the classroom. These programs are live, hybrid, or virtual and take place on different days/times to accommodate varying schedules. Examples of recent programs include “STEM Careers in the Environmental Arena,” “Opportunities for STEM Students in the Summer,” “How to Make a Biologic Drug,” “Cybersecurity Student Panel,” “STEM Careers in the Public Sector,” “Four-Year Transfer Workshop,” and “Speed Networking.” You will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to companies and four-year colleges/universities. Recent trips included visits to Ginkgo Bioworks, the US FDA Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center, MathWorks, Google, UMass Lowell, Northeastern University, and Wentworth Institute of Technology.
As an enrolled STEM student, you will receive a bi-weekly STEM Student Newsletter via email and be provided access to STEM News on Blackboard, a one-stop virtual platform for STEM information. Through these we provide STEM-focused information on MassBay’s internal programs, events, announcements, scholarships, and STEM clubs, as well as external
STEM-focused information on internship/job/Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) opportunities, programs, career fairs, conferences, competitions, professional organizations, and networking opportunities.