Shared Assessment-Governance Challenges in Caribbean and Latino-Serving STEM Higher Education: The STREAM Model

Abstract

Assessment evidence often fails to inform educational action because definitions vary, reports arrive late, responsibilities are unclear, and interventions are not reassessed. Using design-based research and de-identified 2017–2024 records, this study evaluates STREAM, an evidence-to-action governance model developed in an anonymized Caribbean STEM faculty. STREAM reduced report preparation from 120 to five minutes, review errors from 27% to zero, and committee review from four weeks to one. Four HSI studies revealed parallel problems involving gateway-course risk, evidence quality, intervention ownership, resourcing, and evaluation. STREAM offers an adaptable governance workflow for Latino-serving institutions, although HSI field testing remains necessary.