Catalysts for Increasing Undergraduate Diversity
and Persistence in STEM
Zakiya S. Wilson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Success
Associate Professor of Chemistry
North Carolina A&T State University • Greensboro, NC 27411
Office of Strategic Initiatives
US S&E Human Resource Development
Office of Strategic Initiatives
National Science Board (U.S.) Science and Engineering Indicators; NSF: Arlington, VA, 2010.
UCLA Higher Education Research Institute
32%
7%
4%
S&E Undergraduate Student Persistence
Percentage of 2004 STEM aspirants who
completed STEM degrees in four and
five years, by race/ethnicity.
SOURCE: UCLA Higher Education Research Institute.
Trends in students’ aspiration to
major in a STEM discipline by racial
identification, 1971-2009.
SOURCE: UCLA Higher Education Research
Institute.
National Academy of Sciences; National Academy of Engineering; Institute of Medicine Expanding Underrepresented Minority
Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads; National Academies Press: Washington DC, 2011.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Dr. Isiah M. Warner
Dr. Gloria Thomas
Jade Ethridge
Sandy Bacchus
Stephanie Givens
Leila Shaik
Melissa Crawford
Darlene Sevier
Dr. Ashleigh Wright
Ciara Foster
Charisma Edwards
Kevin Roberson
Gretchen Schneider
Myron Peters
Vice Chancellor
Executive Director of Research,
Education, & Mentoring Programs
Business Manager
OSI Administrative Assistant
Upward Bound Director
Upward Bound Academic Coordinator &
S-STEM Manager
LA-STEM Program Manager
LA-STEM Administrative Assistant
HHMI Professors Program Manager
OSI Academic Coordinator & LAMP Manager
I3 Program Coordinators
IMSD Program Manager
BDP & GAELA Program Manager
Dr. Zakiya S. Wilson (2009-2013)
Office of Strategic
Initiatives
Executive
Director of Research, Education, & Mentoring Programs
Supportive
Motivating
Diverse
LEARNING COMMUNITIES
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Mentoring
Office of Strategic Initiatives
Education
Research
HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT LEARNING APPROACH
Factors Impacting Persistence in STEM:
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Undergraduate Academic Performance
Self Image
Pre-College Background
Academic Advising
Social Integration
Financial Support
Multi-faceted Training Model:
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Recruitment of motivated students
Cohort-based model
Holistic mentoring
Early integration into research
Strong academic support system
Community service and outreach
High expectations
Counseling/Advising at critical junctures
Multi-faceted data-based decision making
Office
of Strategic Initiatives
Office of Strategic
Initiatives
Six-Year Graduation Rates
In STEM Undergraduate Curricula
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
OSI/LA-STEM OSI/S-STEM
OSI/LAMP
OSI/IMSD
All Students
OSI/HHMI
Professors
Women
LSU
Highly
Selective
Institutions
Selective
Institutions
Moderately
Selective
Institutions
Minorities
National Comparison Data from the 2011-2012 STEM Retention Report prepared by the Center of
Institutional Data Exchange and Analysis at the University of Oklahoma.
Office of Strategic Initiatives
SYSTEMIC MENTORING
Summer Bridge
Individual Development Plans
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Metacognitive approach to professional and personal development
Students and staff collaborate on a plan of action for the semester
Graded on completion of assignments
Staff Mentor Meetings 2-6 times per semester
Research Mentor/Advisor
Peer Mentoring
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Paired into interest groups
Plan at least 3 meetings per semester
Incentive plan/competition
UC Success Courses
Office of Strategic Initiatives
LA-STEM RESEARCH SCHOLARS
101 Graduates through Dec. 2012
Barry M. Goldwater Scholars (6)
Harry S. Truman Scholar (1)
Morris K. Udall Scholars (2)
Edwin Lee II, Electrical &
Computer Engineering
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2009 Tiger Twelve Honoree
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PhD in Electrical Engineering
at The Ohio State University
NSF Graduate Research Fellows (8)
National Defense Science & Engineering Fellow (1)
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellow (1)
LSU Tiger Twelve Honorees (5)
Christina Jones, Chemistry
LSU Distinguished Communicator (9)
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Phi Beta Kappa
University Medalists (11)
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Outstanding Research Achievement
Award
College Honors (thesis: 14)
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UNCF/Merck Scholar
Summa Cum Laude Graduates (13)
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A.P. Tureaud Milestone Award
Magna Cum Laude Graduates (9)
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PhD in Chemistry at the Georgia
Institute of Technology
Cum Laude Graduates (14)
Office of Strategic
Initiatives
Office
of Strategic Initiatives
LA-STEM RESEARCH SCHOLARS
PILLAR OF SUCCESS
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249 Scholars served since 2003
101 LA-STEM Graduates
92% STEM Graduation Rate
43% graduated with a minimum 3.7 cum GPA
84% completed or pursuing post-baccalaureate
programs (PhD, MS, DDS, DVM/PhD, etc.)
 33% of 82 graduates have completed
post baccalaureate degrees*
 49% female graduates in STEM
 32% minority graduates in STEM
Office of Strategic Initiatives
OPPORTUNITIES
Scale Up of High Impact Practices (AAC&U)
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First-Year Seminars and Experiences
Common Intellectual Experiences
Learning Communities
Writing-Intensive Courses
Collaborative Assignments and Projects
Undergraduate Research
Diversity/Global Learning
Service Learning, Community-Based Learning
Internships
Capstone Courses and Projects
George D. Kuh, High-Impact Educational Practices: What They Are, Who Has Access to Them,
Office
of Strategic Initiatives
and Why They Matter, Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), 2008