Summary of NABSE STEM Research

Symposium Genette Comfort, Harold

Washington, and Erik RhodesNovember 19, 2011

Talking PointsO NASBE and the HBCUs are committed to

forming a robust partnership in 2012.O There were many valuable ideas and

agenda items shared.O Facilitator Dr. Mary Dilworth will follow

up with these ideas within the next few months.

O Goal: To formulate strategies and apply for funding to implement these ideas.

Talking PointsO Experts say that the United States is not

producing enough scientists and engineers.

O Nationwide, most college students who start off in STEM fields either do not graduate, or change to a different major.

O President Obama and industry groups are calling for colleges and universities to graduate, “10,000 more engineers a year and 100,000 new teachers with majors in STEM.”

Talking PointsO Mentoring is a critical component for

academic success.O The Rochester (New York) City School

District has implemented the Pencil Program which partners a local business or non-profit organization with a local school.

O This can be a prototype for a national mentoring program facilitated by NABSE.

Symposium NotesO Since 2004, African Americans have

lost ground relative to the rest of the student population regarding interest in STEM-related studies and careers. (1)

O NABSE is very interested in the pipeline of STEM teachers.

O Congressional Black Caucus members are interested in the growth of STEM programs for minorities.

Symposium NotesO Howard University has taken a significant

leadership role in providing STEM access for minorities.

O Howard has created a public charter school, the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science. This school is committed to academic excellence, with a specific focus on math and science.

O One in 10 undergraduates at Howard are enrolled in STEM majors.

Dr. Freeman Hrabowski

O Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), graduated from Hampton University with highest honors in Mathematics.

O He stated that the United States is not producing enough scientists and engineers. (2)

O 41% of UMBC graduates are in the science, engineering, and math fields. This is well above the national average of 25%. (2)

Dr. Freeman Hrabowski

O Nationwide, most college students who start off in STEM fields either do not graduate, or change to a different major. (2)

O UMBC keeps the students engaged by involving them in research normally left to graduate students, such as researching the causes of HIV. (2)

O Students can obtains jobs / internships with one of the 76 companies located on-campus. (2)

Dr. Freeman Hrabowski

O Dr. Hrabowski started the Meyeroff Scholarship, a program dedicated to providing opportunity for African Americans, “who were shut out of careers in sciences for lack of opportunity, not talent.” (2)

O There have been 813 graduates of the 23 year old program, and almost 90% have gone on to graduate school. (2)

New York Times Article on STEM (3)

O President Obama and industry groups are calling for colleges and universities to graduate, “10,000 more engineers a year and 100,000 new teachers with majors in STEM.”

O 60% of STEM students either change their major, or fail to get a degree.

O Preparation for STEM is not just a K-12 issue.

New York Times Article (3)

O Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) engages STEM students through internships and real-world problem solving assignments.

O Consequently, their students are more focused. 74% of WPI undergraduates earn their Bachelor’s Degrees in four years; 80% in six years.

MentoringO The research has identified mentoring as a

critical component for academic success, both for high school and college students.

O Previous examples demonstrate the value of mentoring relationships, which encompass both internship and Co-op opportunities.

O Research shows that 70% of African American teachers had a significant mentor that pushed him / her into the profession. (1)

Pencil ProgramO The Rochester (New York) City School

District has implemented this innovative program which partners a local business or non-profit organization with a local school.

O According to School Board President Malik Evans, each of the District’s 70 schools have a Pencil Partner.

O Mr. Evans stated that they will not consider opening a new school without such a partnership.

Pencil PartnershipO This 3 year-old program has already

established some significant partnerships.O The School Without Walls has partnered

with M&E Engineering. This had led to significant internship opportunities for their students.

O Rochester’s new STEM High School is currently working on a partnership with CISCO. This would ultimately allow motivated students to earn a CISCO certificate while still in high school.

Pencil PartnershipO CISCO certified technicians can earn

an average of $28,000 to $36,000. This would not require a college education.

O The district has also established a city-wide partnership with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). If academically qualified, a City School graduate can attend RIT tuition-free.

Next StepsO NABSE has proposed a nationwide

STEM tour, which would raise STEM awareness in the Districts where the events take place.

O This tour would also be supported by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

O Mentoring would be a key component. NABSE will engage their corporate partners to provide mentors.

Next StepsO The ‘Divine 9’ could also be

approached for their support, and to provide mentors.

O This program would be modeled after the City of Rochester’s Pencil Program.

Short-Term OutcomesO To raise STEM awareness in the

community-at-large.O To mobilize and enhance the number of

minorities who want to become STEM teachers.

O To increase the number of mentors available for the minority community.

O To implement a mentorship pilot program in several CBC Districts in 2012.

Short-Term OutcomesO Increase both the quality and

quantity of internship and Co-op STEM opportunities for minority students.

O To increase the enrollment in HBCU STEM programs.

O Bridge the gap between HBCUs and local school districts.

Long-Term OutcomesO A sustained increase in the pipeline of

minority STEM teachers.O A sustained increase the number of

STEM graduates.O Development of a nationally

recognized mentoring program, which would be implemented in many CBC districts.

O Long-term corporate and financial support for this vital mission.

FootnotesO (1): Presentation by Ryan Munce, Vice President

for National Research Center for College & University Admissions (NRCUA).

O (2): http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100007424&docId=l:1541008697&Em=7&start=21

O (3): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/education/edlife/why-science-majors-change-their-mind-its-just-so-darn-hard.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all