latinas/os in stem: a longitudinal look at the experiences that lead to persistence american...

Latinas/os in STEM: A Longitudinal Look at the Experiences that Lead to Persistence

American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education

Sixth Annual National Conference

San Antonio, TX

March 4, 2011

Sylvia Hurtado, UCLA

Gina A. Garcia, UCLA

Background

National call to increase the participation of Latinas/os in STEM degrees and careers America COMPETES Act College Cost Reduction and Access Act Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

Latinas/os 15% of the U.S. population in 2007 Earned 7.2% of all STEM bachelor’s degrees

awarded in 2006 Made up 5.2% of STEM workforce in 2006

Sample

UCLA’s Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) The Freshman Survey (TFS) 2004 Your First College Year (YFCY) 2005 College Senior Survey (CSS) 2008 Graduate Student Focus Groups 2009-2010

BBS vs. STEM

BBS Majors Biology Biochemistry Biophyshics Microbiology Bacteriology Zoology Chemistry Medicine Dentistry Veterinary Medicine Pharmacy Psychology

STEM majors BBS majors plus… Aeronautical Engineering Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering Industrial Engineering Mechanical Engineering Astronomy Mathematics Physics Nursing

Aspiring Scientists-Fall 2004 (n=5,425)

In comparison to White students, Latina/o aspiring scientists… Have higher financial concerns Are less prepared academically Have lower academic self-confidence Take fewer math & science courses in high

school Have lower aspirations for pursuing a career as

a scientific researcher


42.1

71.554.653

81.960.5

Academic Indicators

Latina/o White


In comparison to White students, more Latina/o aspiring scientists… Attend institutions w/ NIH-sponsored programs Participate in summer research programs &

health science research programs (prior to college)

Aspire for a Ph.D. or Ed.D. Aspire to become a physician


Aspire to Ph.D. or Ed.D. Aspire to become a Physician

35.8

31.331.5

26.9

Aspirations

Latina/o White

Emerging Scientists-Spring 2005 (n=674)

In comparison to White and Asian students, Latina/o emerging scientists… Have higher financial concerns Have lower academic performance (grades) Have lower academic self-confidence Experience higher rates of racial tension or

discrimination on campus


18.8 19.313.411.7

16.311.4

Racial Tension or Discrimination

Latina/o BBS White/Asian BBS


In comparison to White and Asian students, more Latina/o emerging scientists… Have a desire to improve the health of minority

communities Took a first-year experience course Worked on a professor’s research project in

their first year

4th Year Latina/o STEM Students (n=594)

Decline in aspirations for Ph.D. or Ed.D. (from freshman year)

Increase in aspirations for M.A. or M.S. (from freshman year)

Higher debt accumulation than White and Asian STEM students

More likely than White and Asian students to help support family


Family Grants & Scholarships Loans

50

34

45

25 242725

42

28

Source of Financial Support

$0-$2,999 $3,000-$9,999 $10,000 or more


Academic Program for

URM

Club Related to Major

Undergrad Research Program

26.8

62.1

22.7

Co-curricular Involvement


Becoming an authority in my field

Making a theoretical contribution to science

Working to find a cure for a health problem

Improving the health of minority communities

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

61.7

41.5

57.7

61.9

65.6

39.2

53

61.2

61.2

39.1

56.5

2004 2005 2008

Science Identity


Predictors of Persistence College generational status (-) Standardized test scores (+) Participation in a club/organization related to

major (+) Participation in undergraduate research (+) Sense of belonging (+) Negative cross-racial interactions (-)

Latina/o Graduate STEM

And like I said before, I always thought it was just gonna be med school – that’s what I envisioned. I took all the prerequisites, even the MCAT’s, but I participated in a research program and I really liked it. So as far as graduate school, once I took that program I started my last semester in research with the person that’s now my advisor. She’s the one that introduced me to several scholarship programs that were available in graduate school.

(Lauren, Latina, Molecular Biology, HSI)


But this professor saw something else and gave me this opportunity to work in his lab. And that’s when I started doing more energy related research. And from there, I could start seeing there’s something else that I could do here. And he paid for [me to attend a] conference. I got accepted and we did this fellowship. So that gave me more information about more PhD programs. And then he helped me to apply for a PhD. So when I left school, I got accepted in two schools first for doing the Ph.D.

(Tyler, Latino, Chemical/Biomolecular Engineering, PWI)


I didn't know about grad school or anything, when I [started undergrad]. But I was in a few of the undergraduate minority research programs, almost all throughout my undergraduate years, like three years. And they always did encourage me to go to graduate school. So, I knew that I definitely did want to go to grad school, eventually, and do research.

(George, Latino, Molecular Biology, PWI)

Implications for Practice

Early attention and program interventions to encourage and sustain Latina/o science talent

Focus interventions on points of loss—1st year, entrance to the major, transition to post grad

Greater institutional efforts are needed to position Latina/os for entering graduate programs

Implications for Practice

Financial concerns are a key barrier for STEM: Consider debt forgiveness for entering STEM or teaching in science

UG Programs should include stipends and book grants to cover the costs of expensive but necessary texts

Continue funding to institutions and support Latina/o faculty who are mentoring the next generation

Contact Information

Faculty and Co-PIs:Sylvia HurtadoMitchell Chang

Postdoctoral Scholars:Kevin EaganJosephine Gasiewski

Administrative Staff:Aaron Pearl

Graduate Research Assistants:Christopher NewmanMinh TranJessica Sharkness

Gina GarciaFelisha HerreraCindy Mosqueda

Juan GaribayTanya Figueroa

Papers and reports are available for download at:

http://heri.ucla.edu/nihProject e-mail: [email protected]

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.

latinas/os in stem: a longitudinal look at the experiences that lead to persistence american...

Documents