Rocky Mountain Scholars Program: Impact on Female Undergraduate Engineering Students – Social and Academic Support, Retention, and Success

International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy

ARTICLE

Mark Brown¹  Matthew P. Hitt¹  Alyssa Stephens¹  Ellyn M Dickmann¹ 

[1] Colorado State University

关键词: Rocky Mountain Scholars Program;    STEM education;    gender differences;    social support;   

DOI  :  10.3991/ijep.v10i4.12139

来源: International Society for Engineering Education (IGIP), Kassel University Press

【 摘 要 】

The Rocky Mountain Scholars Program (RMSP) was developed, in part, to improve student success and persistence in Engineering disciplines at Colorado State Universi-ty through a portfolio of engagement activities focused around undergraduate research experiences. Female RMSP participants exhibited substantially higher retention rates and grade point averages relative to other female engineering students at CSU. To better understand the impact of the RMSP, and its effectiveness among female engi-neering students, researchers focused on whether, and how, experiences and percep-tions differ between male and female students in engineering programs. That is, how do male and female students differ, if at all, in their subjective perception of life as an engineering major at CSU? A survey was developed measuring resilience, self-efficacy, motivation, social support, academic support, and perceived sexism. Data was obtained from 144 first-year engineering students at CSU. Results indicated that social support from extracurricular activities is particularly important among female students. This points to an increasing need for programs like the RMSP to create social networks among students and faculty, link students to the broader impacts of their work, and ultimately improve the undergraduate experience of under-represented groups in STEM programs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown