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Owner: Jennifer McNeilly
Owner Email: jrmcneil@illinois.edu
Paper Title: Improving STEM Graduation Rates Through a Multifaceted Scholarship Program at an R1 Institution
Session Title: Centering STEM in Student Assessment (Table 6)
Paper Type: Roundtable Presentation
Presentation Date: 4/15/2023
Presentation Location: Chicago, IL
Descriptors: Diversity, Retention, Science Education
Methodology: Mixed Method
Author(s): Jennifer McNeilly, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Elise McCarren, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Gretchen Adams, Carroll University
Unit: Division J - Postsecondary Education
Abstract: Research shows that attrition in STEM majors is higher than other areas and is magnified for low-income and underrepresented students. Though high impact practices - including research, mentoring, professional development, and scholarships - may be effective in improving major retention, research overlooks the impact of combining these practices on student persistence in STEM majors. A study of 29 low-income biology, chemistry, and mathematics majors who participated in a scholarship program providing these high impact practices resulted in 22 (76%) graduating in their original major. This is greater than the comparison group graduation rate (52%), with larger gaps between rates for underrepresented populations. Mixed-methods results are presented along with implications for the structuring of similar programs at large, public, R1, PWIs.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3102/2000602