Summary of NABSE STEM Research Symposium Genette Comfort, Harold Washington, and Erik Rhodes November 19, 2011.

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