Investigating STEM Identity and Belonging Among STEM-Interested Hispanic Students Participating in a First-Year Experience Course

在改进的本科生STEM教育：拉美裔服务机构(HSI计划)的支持下，该项目将调查有潜力的做法，以证明有潜力增加获得STEM领域学位的拉美裔学生的数量。拉美裔学生正在以前所未有的速度进入高等教育，但参加STEM课程的比例低于他们的同龄人。这一差距可能部分是由一些因素造成的，例如STEM专业人员和教职员工中缺乏西班牙裔代表，对STEM职业缺乏认识，以及持续存在的经济障碍。这项在宾夕法尼亚州利哈伊碳社区学院开展的试点项目将通过Aspira STEM途径向拉美裔学生介绍STEM领域和职业，提供动手活动、嘉宾演讲、小组讨论和同行指导。通过这项工作，学院将探索这些活动对学生留存、归属感以及对STEM学术和职业道路的了解的影响。预计的结果包括更多的拉美裔学生将注册STEM项目，并报告更多的归属感和对他们选择的研究领域的联系。LeHigh Carbon社区学院的目标是在30-40名对STEM感兴趣的西班牙裔学生中创建一个相互支持的社区，在Aspira STEM赛道上。该项目将利用为期14周、1学分的课程，一年级学生参加积极的学习练习，如小组工作、数据分析和解决问题的活动，包括迷你实验室，以提高他们对STEM领域和职业的认识。通过日记、小组讨论、嘉宾演讲和同行指导，该项目将使学生能够在校园内外发展对STEM社区的归属感和联系。包括奖学金和同行指导在内的干预措施将通过为参加Aspira STEM路径并打算进入STEM职业道路的学生提供财务支持、指导和与学术资源的联系来促进公平。更多的教师专业发展将增加学院STEM学科的包容性教学实践。预计通过Aspira STEM途径：(1)从学期到学期，至少80%的学生将保留在STEM项目中；(2)至少90%的学生将报告更了解STEM的学术和职业道路；(3)至少80%的学生将报告更多归属感；(4)至少75%的STEM教职员工将接受包容性教学实践的教育。将通过该项目完成对定性和定量学生数据的荟萃分析，并将增加关于拉美裔美国人在校园内的归属和STEM身份的现有文献。该项目由HSI计划资助，该计划旨在加强本科生STEM教育，扩大对STEM的参与，并建设HSIS的能力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program), this project will investigate promising practices that demonstrate potential to increase the number of Hispanic students earning degrees in STEM fields. Hispanic students are entering higher education at unprecedented rates but are enrolling in STEM programs at lower rates than their peers. This gap may be partially explained through factors such as the lack of Hispanic representation among STEM professionals and faculty, a lack of awareness about STEM careers, and persistent financial barriers. This pilot project at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Pennsylvania will introduce Hispanic students to STEM fields and careers through the Aspira STEM Track, offering hands-on activities, guest speakers, group discussions, and peer mentoring. Through this work, the college will explore the impacts of these activities on student retention, sense of belonging, and knowledge of STEM academic and career pathways. Anticipated outcomes include more Hispanic students will enroll in STEM programs and report a greater sense of belonging and connection to their chosen field of study.Lehigh Carbon Community College aims to create a community of mutual support among 30-40 STEM-interested Hispanic students in the Aspira STEM Track. This project will make use of a fourteen-week, one-credit hour course where cohorts of first-year students participate in active learning exercises, such as group work, data analysis and problem-solving activities including mini labs, to increase their awareness of STEM fields and careers. Through journaling, group discussions, guest speakers, and peer mentoring, the program will empower students to develop a sense of belonging and connection to the STEM community on- and off-campus. Interventions including scholarships and peer mentoring will promote equity by providing financial support, mentorship, and connection to academic resources for students participating in the Aspira STEM Track and intending to enter a STEM career path. Additional faculty professional development will increase inclusive teaching practices within the college’s STEM disciplines. It is anticipated that through the Aspira STEM Track: (1) At least 80% of students will be retained in a STEM program from semester-to-semester; (2) At least 90% of students will report greater understanding of STEM academic and career pathways; (3) At least 80% of students will report a greater sense of belonging; and (4) At least 75% of STEM faculty will be educated on inclusive teaching practices. A meta-analysis of qualitative and quantitative student data will be completed through the project and will add to the current literature on Hispanic belonging and STEM identity on-campus. This project is funded by the HSI Program, which aims to enhance undergraduate STEM education, broaden participation in STEM, and build capacity at HSIs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.