Students experienced authentic university research environments, including:
Students consistently rated their UMBC campus experience highly, appreciating the university environment and facilities.
The SEA program provided students with:
Campus Navigation: Students successfully navigated the UMBC campus, developing familiarity with university settings that will benefit them in future higher education experiences.
Research Environment: Access to professional-grade laboratories and equipment gave students authentic exposure to university-level scientific research, inspiring many to consider STEM careers and higher education.
College Readiness: The university setting helped students develop confidence in academic environments, with many expressing increased interest in attending college after experiencing campus life firsthand.
High-Demand Areas: Medical/Biology courses received the most requests, followed by Engineering and Computer Science. These align well with UMBC's strengths and could complement existing CNMS offerings.
Interdisciplinary Opportunities: Students expressed strong interest in courses that bridge disciplines, such as biomedical engineering, computational biology, or environmental technology.
Hands-On Learning Priority: Consistent with 2025 feedback, students emphasized wanting more lab-based, project-oriented courses where they can build, create, and experiment.
Career Exploration: Many requests included career-oriented language, suggesting courses that explicitly connect to professional pathways would be highly valued.
Strategic Distribution: CNMS courses were offered during 4 of the 5 SEA weeks, with strategic distribution across the program. Week 1 launched with the highest concentration (4 courses), Week 2 featured Quantum Bridge, Week 3 offered Earth Science with Satellite Imagery, and Week 5 concluded with Extraordinary Geometry.
Course Size Optimization: The program successfully accommodated varied enrollment patterns with 3 large courses (9-11 students), 2 medium courses (6-7 students), and 2 intimate small courses (3-5 students). This range allowed for both collaborative group dynamics and personalized attention based on course complexity and student needs.
Session Balance: With 4 PM sessions and 3 AM sessions, the program provided scheduling flexibility while slightly favoring afternoon time slots, which proved popular among participants.
Outstanding Course Quality: The 2025 SEA CNMS program delivered exceptional educational experiences across 7 diverse courses, achieving an overall course rating of 4.4/5 and instructor rating of 4.7/5.
High Engagement: Despite varied course sizes, 45 out of 55 enrolled students participated in evaluations with a strong 82% response rate. Students consistently praised hands-on experiments, laboratory work, and interactive learning approaches regardless of class size.
Optimal Content Challenge: 85% of students found content difficulty "just right," demonstrating successful curriculum calibration across different course formats and enrollment levels.
Instructor Excellence: Multiple instructors received perfect 5.0/5 ratings, with students highlighting their passion, clear explanations, and ability to create welcoming learning environments in both large and small class settings.
Week 1 (Jun 23-27) - Strong Launch: 4 courses with 29 total enrolled students, including top performers Cosmic Distances (4.9/5, 11 students) and Physics: Wonders of the Sky (4.7/5, 3 students). The week showcased both large group dynamics and intimate learning experiences.
Week 2 (Jul 7-11) - Advanced Focus: Quantum Bridge (4.6/5, 11 students) successfully introduced advanced physics and chemistry concepts through hands-on quantum dot experiments and nanoparticle synthesis.
Week 3 (Jul 14-18) - Applied Science: Earth Science with Satellite Imagery (4.6/5, 10 students) demonstrated practical applications of technology in environmental research and monitoring.
Week 5 (Jul 28-Aug 1) - Creative Conclusion: Extraordinary Geometry (4.8/5, 5 students) provided an engaging, hands-on approach to mathematical concepts through creative projects and interactive activities.
Career Inspiration: Student feedback revealed strong interest in expanding CNMS offerings, with medical/biology courses receiving the highest number of requests, followed by engineering and computer science. This indicates significant appetite for broader STEM programming.
Interdisciplinary Interest: Students consistently requested courses that bridge multiple disciplines, such as biomedical engineering, computational biology, and environmental technology, suggesting opportunities for innovative course development that leverages UMBC's cross-departmental strengths.
Size-Agnostic Success: Both large courses (Cosmic Distances, Quantum Bridge) and small courses (Physics, Geometry) achieved excellent ratings, proving that CNMS programming succeeds across different scales.
Future Engagement: 95% of students expressed interest in returning to SEA, with many specifically requesting more CNMS offerings, indicating strong program impact regardless of class dynamics.