• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

ERN: Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
    • Graduate Abstract Locator
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Login

An Investigation of STEM Student and Faculty Experiences at HBCUs

Undergraduate #91
Discipline: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Subcategory: Education

Lydia Davis - Tennessee State University


To maximize the persistence of STEM students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) it is important to sustain student interest in the STEM fields upon recruitment and after enrollment in STEM degree programs. Gathering data regarding current student experiences in STEM majors at HBCUs will support the identification, prevention, and reduction of barriers these students face in completing their STEM degrees. Researchers nationwide completed a descriptive research study targeted at recognizing and categorizing ways to broaden participation and guarantee success for students completing STEM degrees at HBCUs. Methods: Data was collected using survey instruments from sixty-three student participants (N = 63) at HBCUs in STEM majors. The survey instruments included several items prompting students to rate each item using a Likert scale to reflect on their STEM experience in their specific degree major. An example of one survey item is as follows: 1) Students lose confidence due to low grades in early STEM courses. Results: Results indicate that most student participants identify language barriers with foreign faculty or teaching assistants to be an obstacle to degree completion and student achievement in STEM majors at their institution, as this survey item was mostly rated with a 4 or a 5 for “Agree” or “Strongly Agree.” Students also reported that they are losing interest in STEM majors with ratings of this survey item. These findings demonstrate support is needed to assist students in overcoming language barriers and keeping interest in the STEM field to ultimately complete their degree. The present study findings will support the development of strategies and supportive programming focused on broadening participation within STEM disciplines, enhancing the persistence of STEM students, and improving overall student experiences in the STEM fields at a HBCUs.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): HBCU-UP, National Science Foundation.

Faculty Advisor: Lesia Crumpton-Young, dr.young@tnstate.edu

Role: I am a research assistant who aided Lesia Crumpton-Young in collecting data and analyzing the results.

Sidebar

Abstract Locators

  • Undergraduate Abstract Locator
  • Graduate Abstract Locator

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The World’s Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

Focus Areas

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law

© 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science