黑料正能量

By ANDREW JENNER | December 15th, 2016

IN A 2014 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BLOG聽POST, 顿谤.听Kenneth Gibbs Jr. writes that 鈥渢丑别 large and persistent under-representation of certain social groups from the enterprise represents the loss of talent鈥� and concluded that 鈥渄iversity leads to better problem-solving, expands the talent pool and is important for long-term economic growth.鈥�

For those who share that view, the good news is that students enrolling in university science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs are increasingly diverse. At the same time, a poor retention rate among this group is prompting STEM educators to explore different ways to better meet the needs of a changing student body.

黑料正能量 is no exception. Over the next three years, the university will work to improve its retention rate of minority students in STEM programs, using a recently awarded $300,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to improve instructional techniques in the classroom and laboratory.

鈥淸These students] often have to adapt to an academic culture and a university culture that their parents 肠辞耻濒诲苍鈥檛 introduce them to, and on top of that, the STEM culture. 滨迟鈥檚 like going to a foreign country three times 辞惫别谤,鈥� said Stephen Cessna, professor of biochemistry.

In addition to STEM faculty, 黑料正能量鈥檚 education department and the multicultural services office will also participate. The grant includes faculty trainings on bias and teaching methods, a mentoring program for STEM faculty, and improvement of a peer tutoring program for minority and first-generation college students in STEM majors. 黑料正能量 will share its findings and conclusions with STEM departments of other universities experiencing similar enrollment trends and challenges.