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STEM Student Profile. Eight Years of Changes. Dr. Shane T. Ball. A Department of Education publication summary.
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STEM Student Profile Eight Years of Changes Dr. Shane T. Ball
A Department of Education publication summary Source: Chen, X. and Weko, T. (2009). Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) in Postsecondary Education. Institute of Education Sciences. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES 2009-161), U.S. Department of Education, July 2009.
Three questions are addressed Item 1 Who enters STEM fields? What are their educational outcomes? Who persists and completes a STEM degree after entrance into a STEM field? Item 2 Item 3
STEM is an acronym • Science • Technology • Engineering • Mathematics An accent, click to edit the text inside. An accent, click to edit the text inside.
Department of Education’s STEM • Natural Sciences (Physical, Biological/Agricultural) • Computer & information sciences (IS) • Engineering & engineering technologies • Mathematics
Not all STEMs are created equal • The National Science Foundation includes the fields of economics, sociology and political science in their STEM category. • Agricultural Sciences may not even be included in a STEM publication.
Changes in STEM Enrollment Entrance into a STEM Field, 1995-96 Entrance into a STEM Field, 2003-04 • 13.7% of undergraduates enrolled in STEM fields • 4.2% Natural Sciences (Physical 1%, Bio/Ag 3%) • 4.9% Computer & information sciences • 4.2% Engineering & engineering technologies • 0.5% Mathematics • 22.8% undergraduates enrolled in STEM • 8.3% Natural Sci.(Physic.1.5%, Bio/Ag 7.1%) • 6.6% Computer & IS • 8.3% Engineering & eng. technologies • 1.2% Mathematics
Reduction in STEM Entrance From 1996 to 2004: STEM Total: 40.0% decrease Sciences: 49.4% decrease Ag Science 57.8% decrease Technology: 25.8% decrease Engineering: 49.4% decrease Mathematics: 58.3% decrease
Unique Enrollment Pattern STEM Non-STEM • 52% entrants start at 4-year university • 33% very selective of college • 48% started bachelor’s program • 8% attended part time • Computer/IS were equal • Younger • 34% Foreign students • 34% non-English as child • 38% entrants start at 4-year university • 21% very selective • 35% started bachelor’s program • 13% attended part time • Computer/IS were equal • Older • 22% U.S. native • 22% English
Who Enrolls in STEM? * Percentages do not add to one (1) because students entered more than one STEM field between 1996 and 2001. **Interpret data with caution; estimate is unstable.
STEM Academic Indicators • Highest level of math in high school • 45% completed calculus in high school • 26% completed trigonometry in high school • High School GPA • 31% at least B • 18% below B • College Entrance Exam Scores • 51% highest quarter • 21% Lowest quarter • Highest degree expected when first enrolled • 28% graduate or professional • 15% no degree or 2-year diploma
Undergraduate STEM Students From 1996 to 2004:
Students Who Selected First College From 1995-96: The higher the % the more selective.
STEM Students’ Characteristics Source: Chen, X. and Weko, T. (2009). Students Who Study STEM in Postsecondary Education. IES. NCES (NCES 2009 -161), U.S. DOE, July 2009.
STEM Degree Attainment 2001 Data Source: Chen, X. and Weko, T. (2009). Students Who Study STEM in Postsecondary Education. IES. NCES (NCES 2009-161), U.S. DOE, July 2009.
STEM and other majors 1997 t0 2007 ** Computer & IS accounted for almost all the change, nearly doubling (98%). * Business decline was due largely to a drop in the number of secretarial services Note: 31% of all college awards in 2007 were in health care fields. Source: Horn, L. and Li, X. (2009). Changes in Postsecondary Awards Below the Bachelor’s Degree: 1997-2007. Stats in Brief, IES. NCES (2010-167), U.S. DOE, Nov. 2009.
STEM and other majors 1997 t0 2007 ** Computer & IS accounted for almost all the change, nearly doubling (98%). * Business decline was due largely to a drop in the number of secretarial services Note: 31% of all college awards in 2007 were in health care fields. Source: Horn, L. and Li, X. (2009). Changes in Postsecondary Awards Below the Bachelor’s Degree: 1997-2007. Stats in Brief, IES. NCES (2010-167), U.S. DOE, Nov. 2009.
Conclusions: STEM student profile By the Numbers High School Degrees • 14% of all undergraduates enrolled in STEM fields • Data shows a 40% reduction in university STEM students in 10 years • 33% men & 15% women entered STEM • Nearly half (47.4%) were Asian/Pacific Islander • Other racial groups were not measurably different 22.3% Hispanic 21.5% White 20.8% Black 19.1% Indian/Alaskan • 34% were foreign students (only 22% U.S. native) • 34% language spoken as child was non-English • 45% completed calculus in high school • 26% completed trigonometry (total = 71%) • GPA -at least B • 51% highest quarter on college entrance exam • 35% completed a BA/BS degree in STEM Field • 14% enrolled and 5% graduated (not good) • 11% completed a AA degree (not good); about 5% graduated • 63% of transfer bound students from colleges to universities major in liberal arts. Foreign Influence/College
References: • Chen, X. and T. Weko. (2009). Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) in Postsecondary Education. • Horn, L. and X. Li, 2009. Changes in Postsecondary Awards below the Bachelor’s Degree: 1997-2007. • Investing in STEM to Secure Maryland’s Future. • Whalen, D. and Shelley, M. (2010, Jan.-June). Academic Success for STEM and Non-STEM Majors. • Everett-Haynes, L. STEM Program Works to Retain Math, Science Teachers. • Gilbert, J.E. and Lewis, C.W. (2008, Jan.-June). An Investigation of Computational Holistic Evaluation of Admissions Applications for a Minority focused STEM Research Program. • Synder, T.D. and Dillon, S.A. (2010). Digest of Education Statistics 2009 (NCES 2010-013). • Synder, T.D. (2010). Mini-Digest of Education Statistics 2009 (NCES 2010-014). • Seastrom, M., Kaufman, S. and Lee, R. (2002). Appendix B: Evaluating the Impact of Imputations for Item Nonresponse. • Nichols, B. and Ky-Van, L. Silicon Valley STEM Education, Part 2 (of 3): Current State of Silicon Valley STEM. • Weaver, G., Haghighi, K., Cook, D., Foster, C., Moon, S., Phegley, P. and Tormoehlen, R. Attracting Students to STEM Careers. • Sisyphus Revisited Participation by Minorities in STEM Occupations, 1994-2004. • Hu, A. (2010, April 14). Research Finds STEM Classes Have Lower Grades, Higher Dropouts.