ICEE 2010 Attracting and Retaining Women and Underrepresented Groups in Engineering, Science, and Related Programs ICEE 2010 – Gliwice, Poland July 18-22, 2010

The Community College of Baltimore County Sylvia Sorkin, Mathematics Dept. Mary Elizabeth Gore, Mathematics Dept.

Community College of Baltimore County n Public, two-year college system with 3 campuses n Fall 2009 credit enrollment: 23,584 students –36% were full-time –62% Female –25% Pell recipients –31% African-American –1,578 Associate degrees awarded FY09

What groups are under-represented? n In 2003, women were 46% of the total U.S. workforce, but just 26% of the college educated science and engineering workforce. n Under-represented minorities include African- Americans, Hispanics, and other non-Asian ethnic groups including Native Americans. n These under-represented minorities comprised 24% of U.S. population, but just 10% of the college-educated science and engineering workforce in 2003.

NSF S-STEM 4-Year Project n Funded by U.S National Science Foundation (NSF). n Project goal to increase the enrollment, graduation, and transfer of students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs at CCBC. n Scholarship awardees must be: U.S. Citizens Permanent Resident Aliens Refugee Aliens

What Interventions Were Used? n Two-day summer career program for awardees focusing on STEM programs n Need-based scholarship program n Mentoring of all awardees by 7 STEM faculty n Internship assistance for awardees

Scholarship Criteria n Minimum 2.8 Grade Point Average n Eligible for Intermediate Algebra, or higher n Register for 12 credits and maintain 2.8 GPA in one of these 7 transfer programs: Biology Chemistry Computer Science Engineering Environmental Science Mathematics Physics

STEM Scholarship Awardees n Each has a faculty mentor in a STEM field n Use monthly Mentoring Logs to record meetings n Complete an Annual Student Attitude Questionnaire to track attitudes toward STEM fields ccbcmd.edu/stem/sstem.html

NSF STEM Funding at CCBC n From Fall 2008 through Spring 2010, n 57 students received scholarships n Average award was for 2 semesters n Scholarship up to $10,000 per year, depends on financial need

Faculty Mentoring n Aimed at increasing retention n 7 faculty mentors meet at least monthly with their 3-4 student mentees n Monthly mentoring logs submitted by faculty and students n Mentor creates an individual academic plan with each awardee

Efforts to Increase Transfer Rate n Awardees encouraged to complete bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields. n Up to 20% of scholarship funds designated to “follow” awardees who transfer. n After transfer, students can receive up to 2 semesters of scholarship funding. n CCBC faculty continue to mentor awardees after transfer.

Where are the 57 awardees? As of Fall 2010, 26 have transferred to 4-year colleges University of Maryland Baltimore County (10) University of Maryland College Park (6) Towson University (2) Brigham Young University Idaho (1) University of Maryland Baltimore (1) George Washington University (1) University of Baltimore (1) University of Delaware (1) Swarthmore College (1) Hampton University (1) University of Miami (1)

CCBC STEM Awardees F08 – S10 by Racial/Ethnic Group S-STEM Awardees F 08 - S10

Full-Time Students by Major Fall 07 – Fall 09 Full-Time CCBC Students

Percent of Female Students in Majors Fall 07 – Fall 09 Female Students in CCBC Majors

In the State of Maryland n Over 14,000 Full-Time Freshmen entered the 16 community colleges in MD in 2004 n Over 2,000 Full-Time entered CCBC in 2004 n “Success” is defined as: Transfer to a 4-year institution Transfer to a 4-year institution or or Graduation with Associate’s degree or certificate Graduation with Associate’s degree or certificate

Transferred Graduated but did not transfer Still at community college Dropped out MD state cohort of 14,527 full-time public community college freshman 4 years after 2004 entry 26% 12% 53% 9% Transfer, Graduation, Retention 35% Success Rate

Transferred Graduated but did not transfer Still at community college Dropped out MD state cohort of 14,527 full-time public community college freshman 4 years after 2004 entry 26% 12% 53% 9% Transfer, Graduation, Retention 57 CCBC S-STEM awardees 2 years after first awards made 46% 5% 47% 48% Success Rate 2%

S-STEM Scholars - Program & Gender Female Male Number 57 S-STEM Awardees Fall 08 - Spring 10

33 % 21 % 35 % 7%7% 4%4% S-STEM Scholars - Race & Ethnicity

Scholarship Awardee Outcomes n 30% of S-STEM awardees female (17/57) n 40% of S-STEM awardees African American or Hispanic (23/57)

Attitude Assessment Questionnaire n 24 questions administered to awardees at the start of each semester n To determine what factors influence awardees to select and persist in STEM fields

Responses to Selected Statements 30% of awardees were female I feel enthusiastic about my STEM major I intend to pursue a career in STEM area Having a mentor is vital to my success STEM role models have had a positive effect on me Agree or Strongly Agree Agree or Strongly Agree Agree or Strongly Agree Agree or Strongly Agree August 2008 N= %85 %74 %63 % January 2009 N= %87 %76 %64 % August 2009 N=29 97 %94 %78 %82 %

Gender of S-STEM Awardees 30% of awardees were female

The Community College of Baltimore County, Maryland, USA

Acknowledgement This project was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under S-STEM award DUE Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.