Increasing persistence in STEM among underrepresented minority students, first-generation college students, and women requires faculty and staff to address students' sense of belonging at the classroom, departmental and institutional levels. Social climate and support networks are critical to student success and persistence in STEM. Through ongoing efforts to cultivate and support student community, Oberlin's Inclusive Excellence initiative seeks to change the ways STEM curriculum is delivered and the way its community for STEM learning is built.
Oberlin College staff celebrate CLEAR's Lab Crawl, an event designed to introduce students to possible research opportunities on campus, in Star Wars-themed costumes.

Oberlin College biology students in Professor Yolanda Cruz's lab pose outside their lab during Law Crawl. Students volunteer to staff their labs during the event and give short presentations to other students on their research and how to join the lab.

Oberlin College neuroscience students in Associate Professor Gunnar Kwakye's lab pose stand in their lab during Lab Crawl while Professor Kwakye completes experiments behind them.