WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS

NSF's agency-wide commitment to enhancing the quality and excellence of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research through broadening participation by underrepresented groups and institutions is engaged by numerous programs and activities. Guided by the Strategic Plan, NSF established a performance area focused on broadening participation, as well as developing a report "A Framework for Action" (www.nsf.gov/od/broadeningparticipation/framework_report.jsp) that outlines this approach.

The HRD Division's programs aim to increase the participation and advancement of historically underrepresented populations (including persons with disabilities) and minority-serving institutions. The goal is to ensure that the technical workforce and scientists and engineers have the skills and opportunities needed to flourish in a global knowledge economy (NSF 11-047).

From the recently completed program evaluation of an HRD program, we have learned more about grantee strategies that seem to support student retention to degree, student transition to graduate STEM programs, and/ or student engagement in STEM workforce. The grants evaluated were five-year awards that are intended to provide support for “comprehensive institutional efforts to increase the numbers of students and the quality of their preparation by strengthening STEM education and research” (NSF 11-519).

Institutional strategies contributing to success tended to focus on building institutional infrastructure, such as curricular and instructional reforms, faculty professional development, academic support services for students, collaborative relationships with other institutions, and laboratory and classroom improvements. The core of these strategies included curricular and instructional reforms, faculty professional development, and student support through summer “bridge” programs.

Students matriculating at institutions using all of the core strategies were more likely to stay in the education pipeline, and to earn a graduate degree. Graduates of this program outperformed national comparison samples in achieving the baccalaureate degree in STEM and in participating in the STEM workforce with a graduate degree.