Student Support Services and Impact on Career Outcomes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM): A Pilot Study of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Programs

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

The purpose of this project 1) to assess the summative impact of (WISE) Women in Science & Enginerring programs and other programs on student career outcomes; 2) to develop a standardized methodology for evaluating student career outcomes and the relationship to participation in WISE programs and related support programs; 3) to pilot-test and evaluate the methodology nationally at selected institutions, to ensure generalizability across institutions, and 4) to disseminate the model methodology nationally. This unique approach will include a web-based format that can be used nationally by institutions, with a back-end database and analysis capability. Six higher education institutions have been identified to participate as pilot sites. These institutions include: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, PR; the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX; the Florida International University, Miami, FL; and, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. These six institutions are representative of institutions nationwide, broadly reflect the Carnegie classification of institutions, and provide significant numbers of Hispanic and African-American students. The products that will result from this study will include: 1) a template for a user-friendly data collection method for tracking WISE program and other support program participation and career outcomes, 2) a web-mediated survey instrument and data collection method that institutions nationwide can use and which will be analyzed by CWD and disseminated to participating institutions, 3) an Exit Survey and a Professional Survey to gather career outcomes information, and 4) the results of a pilot-test at six institutions.