Increasing Retention of Underrepresented Students in STEM Fields at California Community Colleges: A Study of the STEM 2 Program

Abstract

With the need to increase Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates, higher education institutions need to identify and improve ways to increase underrepresented STEM student retention rates. Cypress College in Southern California implemented a program called STEM² (Strengthen Transfer Education and Matriculation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to give students the support and the resources to continue with their intended majors. In this study, we examined the impact of the STEM² participation for 1,113 students on multiple core outcomes of retention, four-year transfer, and associates of arts (AA) degree completion of STEM students. Logistics regression was used to determine the significance of input variables and the odds that the desired outcome was achieved. Results indicated there is a difference in student outcomes based on the students’ ethnicity, enrollment in the STEM² program, and use of student support programs. Implications for practice and future research were also included.

Keywords

community college STEM majors retention degree completion transfer

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Amelink

C. T.

Artis

King Liu

T.-J.

(2015). Examining the self-efficacy of community college STEM majors: Factors related to four-year degree attainment. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 39(12), 1111–1124.

Baber

(2011, June). Using community colleges to build a STEM-skilled workforce (Issue Brief). NGA Center for Best Practices.

Beck

Cadwell

Kern

Dickerson

Howard

(2021). Critical feminist analysis of STEM mentoring programs: A meta–synthesis of the existing literature. Gender, Work, and Organization, 29(1), 167–187. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12729

Colton

G. M.

Connor

U. J.

Shultz

E. L.

Easter

L. M.

(1999). Fighting attrition: One freshman year program that targets academic progress and retention for at-risk students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 1(2), 147–162.

Community College Review (2019). Cypress college. https://www.communitycollegereview.com/cypress-college-profile.

Congressional Research Services (2020, Dec 23). Industrail Capabilities (CRS No. C-C691E6A). https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2472854/dod-releases-industrial-capabilities-report/.

Cuellar

M. G.

Gándara

(2020). Promoting access and equity for underrepresented racial minorities? An examination of policies and practices in community college baccalaureate programs. Community College Review, 49(1), 52–75.

Dinh

T. V.

Zhang

Y. L.

(2020). Engagement in high-impact practices and its influence on community college transfers’ STEM degree attainment. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 45(11), 834–849.

Eagan

M. K.

Hurtado

Chang

M. J.

Garcia

G. A.

Herrera

F. A.

Garibay

J. C.

(2013). Making a difference in science education: The impact of undergraduate research programs. American Educational Research Journal, 50(4), 683–713.

10.

Fain

(2018, June 12). As California goes? Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/06/12/calif-finalizes-performance-funding-formula-its-community-colleges.

11.

Fayer

Lacey

Watson

(2017). STEM occupations: Past, present, and future. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/pdf/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future.pdf.

12.

Fike

D. S.

Fike

(2008). Predictors of first-year student retention in the community college. Community College Review, 36(2), 68–88.

13.

Foley

Milan

Hamrick

(2021, January 27). The Increasing Role of Community Colleges among Bachelor’s Degree Recipients: Findings from the 2019 National Survey of College Graduates. National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21309.

14.

Ghosh-Dastidar

Liou-Mark

(2014). Bridging pathways through research and leadership for underrepresented students in STEM. Mathematics and Computer Education, 48(3), 214–226.

15.

Haag

Hubele

Garcia

McBeath

(2007). Engineering undergraduate attrition and contributing factors. International Journal of Engineering Education, 23(5), 929–940.

16.

Hagedorn, L. S., & Purnamasari, A. V. (2012). A realistic look at STEM and the role of community colleges. Community College Review, 40(2), 145–164.

17.

Khan

Robbins

Okrent

(2020, January 15). The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2020. National Science Board. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20201/u-s-s-e-workforce.

18.

Koch

R. A.

Loverude

(2015). STEM Student success through the CSUF catalyst center. Peer Review, 17(2), 25–28.

19.

Kruse

Starobin

S. S.

Chen

Baul

Santos Laanan

(2015). Impacts of intersection between social capital and finances on community college students’ pursuit of STEM degrees. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 39(4), 324–343.

20.

Kuenzi

J. J.

(2008). Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education: Background, federal policy, and legislative action (CRS Report No. RL33434). http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33434.pdf.

21.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2015). The condition of education 2015 (NCES 2015-144). https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2015/2015144.pdf.

22.

National Student Clearinghouse. (2019). About the Clearinghouse. http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/about/.

23.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2021). The condition of education 2021. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/ctr.

24.

Office of Science and Technology Policy (2018). Charting a Course for Success: America’s strategy for STEM education. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED590474.

25.

Okrent

Burke

(2021, August). The STEM Labor Force of Today: Scientists, Engineers, and Skilled Technical Workers. National Science Board Science and Engineering Indicators. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20212/u-s-stem-workforce-definition-size-and-growth#projected-growth-of-employment-in-stem-occupations.

26.

Olson

Riodan

D. G.

(2012). Engage to excel: Producing one million additional college- graduates with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Report to the President). Executive Office of the President.

27.

Petrucci

C. J.

Rivera-Figueroa

A. M.

(2020). Student participation in supplemental instruction in STEM courses at a large urban community college in California. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 45(7), 498–516.

28.

Rottinghaus

P. J.

Falk

N. A.

Park

C. J.

(2018). Career assessment and counseling for STEM: A critical review. The Career Development Quarterly, 66(1), 2–34.

29.

Shadduck

(2016). Comprehensive cocurricular support promotes persistence of community college STEM students. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 41(11), 719–732.

30.

Spruill

Hirt

(2014). Predicting persistence to degree of male college students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research. Theory & Practice, 16(1), 25–48.

31.

State of California Employment Development Department, & Labor and Workforce Development Agency (2015). California labor market trends: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics jobs in California. https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/Publications/Trend-Reports/STEM-California-August-2015.pdf.

32.

Tinto

(1975). Dropout from higher education: A theoretical synthesis of recent research. Review of Educational Research, 45(1), 89–125.

33.

Tinto

(1988). Stages of student departure: Reflections on the longitudinal character of student leaving. Journal of Higher Education, 59(4), 438–455.

34.

Tinto

(1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition. University of Chicago Press.

35.

Tinto

(2017). Through the eyes of students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 19(3), 254–269.

36.

Tuckman

B. W.

Harper

B. E.

(2012). Conducting educational research (6th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.

37.

United States Census Bureau (2018). Quick Facts United States. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045218#PST045218.

38.

United States Government Accountability Office (2014). 2014 annual report: Additional opportunities to reduce fragmentation, overlap, and duplication and achieve other financial benefits (Report No. GAO-14-343SP). https://www.gao.gov/assets/670/662327.pdf.

39.

Villasenor

Bui

Shu-Sha

A. G.

Jain

Saetermoe

Chavira

Khachikian

(2021). Mentors make a difference: Community college students’ development in a biomedical research training program informed by critical race theory. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 28(1), 155–170.

40.

Vogt

C. M.

(2013). Faculty as a critical juncture in student retention and performance in engineering programs. Journal of Engineering Education, 97(1), 27–36.

41.

Windham

M. H.

Rehfuss

M. C.

Williams

C. R.

Pugh

J. V.

Tincher-Ladner

(2014). Retention of first-year community college students. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 38(5), 466–477.