Salt Lake City, Utah
June 23, 2018
June 23, 2018
July 27, 2018
Minorities in Engineering
Diversity
7
10.18260/1-2--31268
https://peer.asee.org/31268
422
Cherish Vance is a doctoral student in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, having also received a B.S. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2013. She actively participates as an Ambassador for Texas A&M’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate. Additionally, she serves on the Climate Council for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which advises on initiatives to create an inclusive climate and promote diversity efforts.
Bria Perkins, Texas A&M University
Bria Perkins is a third year undergraduate student at Texas A&M University studying Computer Engineering and getting minors in Sociology and Mathematics. She acts as the National Communications Coordinator and President-elect for the Residential Housing Association and the Regional Business Conference Chair for the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls, where she votes on international housing initiatives. Additionally, she works as a Supervisory Peer Teacher for the introductory Engineering courses.
Jaida Bannister is a third year undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Texas A&M University. She is interested in pursuing a career in food engineering or natural resources.
Dr. Janie McClurkin Moore is an Assistant Professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at Texas A&M University in College Station. A native of Columbus, Ohio, she attended North Carolina A&T State University where she received a B.S. in Bio Environmental Engineering in 2006. She then began pursuing her graduate education at Purdue University in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, completing her Ph.D. in 2015. Her primary research areas include 1) mycotoxin risk assessment and treatment in stored grains and 2) innovate instructional strategies for Biological and Agricultural Engineering students.
Undergraduate programs attempting to increase retention of underrepresented minorities (URM) often focus on the students' experiences within the first year. At large institutions, students may also have access to additional services and programs to help them succeed beyond their first year. However, some students are either unaware of these resources or unwilling to participate. This can be an issue for URM, especially if they are the only one from their small niche in a particular major or class. At a large south-central university, Black and Hispanic students make up a small demographic within the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS) and Engineering (COE), approximately 3% and 23% respectively. Lack of peer interactions, compounded by other challenges that URM students face, can lead to feelings of isolation and eventually departure decisions. To overcome this perceived isolation, colleges must develop ways to connect students with student support programs (SSP), as well as encourage utilization of co-curricular spaces (CS) already available, yet under utilized. This work explores factors that promote or deter upper-level URM students from engaging in support programs and other student success opportunities in the COALS and COE. The primary goal was to evaluate (1) the feelings of upper-level students concerning inclusion and (2) the utilization of CS & SSP on this University's campus. This research problem will be addressed through a mixed methods approach including knowledge mapping, surveys and focus groups, by exploring the following identifiers: 1) marginalization and 2) isolation. This is a work in progress, this report documents the step-by-step approach used up until data collection.
Vance, C. C., & Perkins, B., & Bannister, J., & Moore, J. M. (2018, June), Work in Progress: An Investigation of a College of Engineering Underrepresented Minority Students’ Perceptions of Inclusive Co-curricular Spaces and Student Support Programs Beyond the First Year. Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--31268
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