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What Matters in College for Retaining Aspiring Scientists and Engineers?

This study examines the factors that contribute to the persistence of underrepresented minority (URM) students in STEM majors. It explores the role of college experiences and college context in influencing STEM major retention. The study highlights the importance of sponsored research programs, studying with peers, institutional selectivity, and the proportion of students majoring in STEM.

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What Matters in College for Retaining Aspiring Scientists and Engineers?

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  1. What Matters in College for Retaining Aspiring Scientists and Engineers? Mitchell Chang Jessica Sharkness Christopher Newman Sylvia Hurtado Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA 2010 AERA Annual Meeting Friday, April 30 – Tuesday, May 4 Denver, Colorado

  2. Background • U.S. Employment in STEM Demographics National Science Foundation, 2009

  3. Background • Persistence in STEM: Percentage of 2004 STEM aspirants who completed STEM degrees within five years Higher Education Research Institute, 2010

  4. Previous Research • Academic preparation • Financial need • Joining a pre-professional or departmental club • Family support, role models, and mentors • Structured research programs

  5. Conceptual Model Academic & Social Experiences Pre-College Factors & Pull-Factors Initial Commitments Final Commitments Persistence Pre-College Ability Psychosocial Factors Financial Assist/Need Encouragement & Support Environmental Pull Factors Formal/Informal Academics with Faculty Social Experiences Campus Climates Validating Experiences Mentoring Experiences Educational Goal Institutional Commitment Reenrollment in Higher Education Institution Educational Aspirations Adapted from Nora, Barlow, Crisp (2005)

  6. Research Questions • Among all students who started college with an interest in majoring in a STEM field, are there significant differences in the proportion of URM students (versus Whites and Asians) who follow through on these intentions? • If so, are these differences moderated by college experiences? • What factors contribute to the STEM major persistence of URM students?

  7. Data • Data Source and Sample: • Longitudinal data: 2004 CIRP Freshman Survey & 2008 CIRP Senior Survey • 3,670 students overall • 1,634 URM students (812 Latino, 626 Black, 196 Native American) • Dependent Variable (“STEM persistence”): • Students followed through with first-year intentions to major in STEM field (1), student switched to another major (0) STEM persistence, by race

  8. Analyses • Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling (HGLM) • Appropriate for multi-level data with dichotomous outcome • Two stages of analyses: • 1. HGLM analysis of student-level predictors of STEM persistence for all-student sample, focusing on significance of race effects • 2. HGLM analysis of student and institution-level predictors of STEM persistence for URM students only • Significant predictors reported as delta-p (Δ-p) statistics

  9. Results: Research Question 1Are there significant differences in the proportion of URM students (versus Whites/Asians) who follow through on STEM major intentions? • Latinos, Blacks significantly less likely to persist in STEM (vs. Asians & Whites) when only demographics are considered • Effect is moderated by college experiences

  10. Results: Research Question 2What factors contribute to the STEM major persistence of URM students? • Only significant predictors shown

  11. Results: Research Question 2What factors uniquely contribute to the STEM major persistence of URM students? • Only significant predictors shown

  12. Discussion • Experiences in college and college contexts can have a significant influence on student persistence in STEM majors, above and beyond high school preparation • Sponsored Research Programs (MARC, MBRS, etc.) • Studying with other students • Institutional Selectivity • Proportion of students majoring in STEM

  13. Contact Information Faculty and Co-PIs: Sylvia Hurtado Mitchell Chang Postdoctoral Scholars: Kevin Eagan Josephine Gasiewski Administrative Staff: Aaron Pearl Acknowledgments: This study was made possible by the support of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH Grant Numbers 1 R01 GMO71968-01 and R01 GMO71968-05 as well as the National Science Foundation, NSF Grant Number 0757076. This independent research and the views expressed here do not indicate endorsement by the sponsors. Graduate Research Assistants: Christopher Newman Minh Tran Jessica Sharkness Monica Lin Gina Garcia Felisha Herrera Cindy Mosqueda Juan Garibay Papers and reports are available for download from project website: http://heri.ucla.edu/nih Project e-mail: herinih@ucla.edu

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