1. Wisconsin’s Equity & Inclusion Laboratory (Wei Lab) Research Team October 15, 2014 1 Research Highlights of Wei Lab STEM-Based Projects

2. Minorities in Higher Education 2 - Statistics Overview -  Percentage Distribution of U. S. Residents in Degree-granting Institutions Notes: The statistics include both full-time and part- time students in degree-granting postsecondary education institutions for each year. The statistics for Whit/Caucasian was plotted on the secondary (right) axis. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2014). Digest of Education Statistics, 2013 (NCES 2014-015), Table 306.10.

3. Underrepresented Groups in STEM Fields 3 - Statistics Overview -  Percentage Distribution of Freshmen Intending Science & Engineering Majors Notes: In 2001 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander was added as a category under Asian American/Asian. The statistics reveal the percentage distribution of freshmen intending science & engineering majors “WITHIN” specific gender/racial group. For example, among female freshmen in 2010, 33 percent intended to major in science & engineering. The intended major could differ with the declared major. Source: Higher Education Research Institute, University of California at Los Angeles (2011). Survey of the American Freshman: National Norms, “Special tabulations.”

4. Research Agenda  Responding to the National Mandate to Diversify the Scientific Workforce STEM occupations constitute a growing sector of the U.S. economy. People of color still remain as underrepresented in STEM fields. The projects focused on diversifying the scientific workforce in the U.S. within the Wei LAB research portfolio. Alliance for the Advancement of African-American Researchers in Computing (A4RC) African American Researchers in Computing Sciences (AARCS) Attitudes Among African Americans (Black Arizona) STEM Education SWOT Analysis (M7 SWOT Analysis) Popularizing Computing in the Mainstream (PC2Main) Software Design and Development Team and Tournament (SDDTT) 4 - Introduction -

5. Contents Alliance for the Advancement of African-American Researchers in Computing African American Researchers in Computing Sciences STEM Education SWOT Analysis 1 2 4 Attitudes Among African Americans 3 5 Popularizing Computing in the Mainstream 5 Software Design and Development Team and Tournament 6

6. Contents Alliance for the Advancement of African-American Researchers in Computing 1 6

7. Research Objectives  STEM Pipeline for African Americans Attaining Advanced Degrees in Computing Sciences Increase quantity & quality of African-American students awarded advanced computing degrees by strengthening computing programs at HBCUs. Institutionalize two-way research and graduate education & teaching partnerships through research collaboration & curriculum outreach. Increase participation of African American students in computer science & computer engineering academic faculty careers. Targeted Presentations ADMI-A4RC Conference A4RC Kickoff Celebration A4RC Pre-Test and Post Summer REU A4RC Partner Faculty Qualitative Data 7 - A4RC -

8. Research Highlights  Gender Female students had less intention to choose computing sciences as their careers; less interaction with faculties; more negative views/stereotype and fear in computing sciences.  Socioeconomic Status The effects of the A4RC programs were larger for students from low-income household.  Computing Related-Extracurricular Activities & Research Experiences The effects of the A4RC programs were larger for those with extracurricular activity experiences and those without research experiences. 8 - A4RC -

9. Contents African American Researchers in Computing Sciences 2 9

10. Research Objectives  STEM Pipeline for African American Student- Faculty in Computing Sciences Broaden the participation of African Americans at the levels of tenure track faculty & research scientist in computing sciences. Address barriers/disbeliefs, concerns, & misunderstandings about computing sciences faculty & research. Increase participation of African American students in computer science & computer engineering academic faculty careers. Targeted Presentations AARCS Annual Conference Future Faculty Mentoring Program 10 - AARCS -

11. Research Highlights  Impact of Presentation Successfully change participants’ interests regarding graduate study/career path in computing sciences. Reduce participants’ negative views/stereotypes towards computing sciences. Positively affect the perception of participants as future faculty or researchers in computing sciences. 11 - AARCS -

12. Contents Attitudes Among African Americans 3 12

13. Research Objectives  Pipeline to STEM Fields for African American K-12 Students in Arizona K-12 students in public schools in the state of Arizona: Scored lower than 44 and 33 states in fourth- and eighth-grade mathematics, respectively. Scored lower than 41 and 56 states in fourth- and eighth-grade science respectively. More than 70 percent of African American students in each grade have not reached proficiency in these essential math and science courses. Understand the future of African American representation in Arizona’s scientific workforce by studying the academic achievement of this population in the elementary & secondary school pipelines based on self-efficacy theory using the data sets from the State of Black Arizona STEM Attitudes Survey (SBASAS). 13 - Black Arizona -

14. Research Highlights  Gender Female students were more likely to pursue a STEM-based career, which provides an evidence that there has been a significant increase in the enrollment of African American females in particular STEM majors.  Family Support Individuals who believed their family highly supported their efforts were more likely to pursue STEM majors and careers.  Interest & Belief individuals who entertained selecting a STEM major & believed their sufficient STEM related-ability were more likely to choose STEM majors and careers.  Societal Perceptions The negative reviews about STEM held by the sample populations negatively affected individuals’ choice of STEM majors and careers. 14 - Black Arizona -

15. Contents STEM Education SWOT Analysis 4 15

16. Research Objectives  SWOT Analysis in M7 STEM Portfolio The seven-county region of southeastern Wisconsin (M7) accounts for 34 percent of the workforce in Wisconsin. Assess the status of STEM affairs in Wisconsin’s M7 region in an effort to provide an environmental scan of its readiness to be reframed as a STEM corridor. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats (SWOT) analysis: Boost student participation in STEM at all educational levels in the M7 region. Increase STEM participation in order to bolster industry hiring in the region. Convince more STEM graduates to remain in the M7 region and attract STEM professionals on the whole. Gain a greater understanding of the activities or initiatives that cement cooperative relationships among STEM organizations. 16 - M7 SWOT Analysis -

17. Research Highlights  Strengths Systematic connections among the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) system, Wisconsin Technical College system, other higher education institutions, and industry affiliates in M7 region, which is related with large educational opportunities in STEM for students throughout the pipeline.  Weaknesses Minimal collaboration among STEM organizations with regard to non-partnership arrangements.  Opportunities Beneficial effects of geographical proximity highlighting key financial opportunities for investment & entrepreneurial growth.  Threats High tax rates and relatively low STEM salaries, & a lack of racial and ethnic diversity with regard to STEM jobs. 17 - M7 SWOT Analysis -

18. Contents Popularizing Computing in the Mainstream 5

19. Research Objectives  Encouraging Students About the Prospect of a Career in Computing Sciences. Encourage female and underrepresented minority middle school students to explore careers in computing sciences through the use of storyboards built into computer games. Create new marketing approaches that engage mainstream audiences for computing. Recruit and retain underrepresented K-12, undergraduate, & graduate students through the experience of creating & implementing several week-long PC2Main summer institutes. Extend the notion of storyboard training nationally by developing & making accessible teacher training kits. 19 - PC2Main -

20. Research Highlights  PC2Main Program Reaction Overall, the AR/VR/Simulation module showed the highest ratings in terms of comprehension, effectiveness, & accessibility while the Robotics and Intelligent Agents module displayed the highest ratings in terms of engagement & reward. The most of lectures were engaging/rewarding, effective, convincing, comprehending, informative, & accessible. The lectures were found to help participants become more familiar and comfortable with computers and technology & thus to influence their decision to become a computer scientist or technology expert in general. The lectures more positively affected non-African American female participants living in a single-parent household & those who experienced computing science-related extracurricular activities and those who had family or relatives working in computing sciences. 20 - PC2Main-

21. Contents 21 Software Design and Development Team and Tournament 6

22. Research Objectives  Social Network & Community Building of CS Majors, Coaches, and Faculty. Increase the number of women & minority students entering computing sciences undergraduate programs. Increase SDDTT students’ level of engagement with activities related to the field of computing sciences. Provide initiatives to aid in the retention and matriculation of SDDTT students toward an undergraduate degree. Provide access to and promote participation in a targeted computing sciences social network for both the SDDTT students and coaches. Friendly competitions Coaches’ symposium Tournament 22 - SDDTT -

23. Research Highlights  SDDTT Program Reaction The majority of participants successfully developed a sense of camaraderie in their preparation and participation in competitions and found to afford practical application of computer science concepts and theories to real-world problems. Most participants were satisfied with the program but had different concerns across membership, academic status, & demographic groups with respect to time limitation & challenge for solving the assigned programs, which revealed the weakness of homogeneity of the program compositions. 23 - SDDTT -

24. Future Research People of Color in STEM Diversity & Inclusion Equal Opportunities Heterogeneity In Program Design Practical Application of Theory 24 - Conclusion -

25. Any questions or comments? 25

26. Wisconsin’s Equity & Inclusion Laboratory (Wei Lab) Research Team October 15, 2014 26 Research Highlights of Wei Lab STEM-Based Projects