Survey of Second Year Students at Grinnell College Fall 2013 Second Year Students Enrolled in Second Year Science Courses

The data reported were collected from surveys of over 100 Grinnell second-year students enrolled in intermediate level science courses this fall. (SERC Survey Fall 2013 Kjerland, Iverson, Gregg- Jolly and Swartz)  What is your image of a scientist?  What skills do you possess that make you like a scientist?  What value is there in having people who see things in different ways working on the same scientific problem? To what extent do you consider yourself a mathematician or scientist? Avg 3.7 StDev 1.00 Scale:1 = Not at all 5 = Very

The data reported were collected from surveys of over 100 Grinnell second-year students enrolled in intermediate level science courses this fall. (SERC Survey Fall 2013 Kjerland, Iverson, Gregg- Jolly and Swartz)  How does what you are studying in your science classes now relate to your other interests?

The data reported were collected from surveys of over 100 Grinnell second-year students enrolled in intermediate level science courses this fall. (SERC Survey Fall 2013 Kjerland, Iverson, Gregg- Jolly and Swartz) Avg: 5.5 StDev1.47  Do you know when your professors’ office hours are?  Do you think your professor would rather spend a few minutes helping you in person or have to spend more time grading your work?  Do you want your professor to understand how hard you are working? 1=Low 7=High Crystal structure of Putative Glyoxalase

The data reported were collected from surveys of over 100 Grinnell second-year students enrolled in intermediate level science courses this fall. (SERC Survey Fall 2013 Kjerland, Iverson, Gregg- Jolly and Swartz)  Is starting to work in a new group hard for you?  It is challenging for most people. Look for ideas today to help you feel more comfortable with this process. Ave: 5.3 StDev =Low 7=High

The data reported were collected from surveys of over 100 Grinnell second-year students enrolled in intermediate level science courses this fall. (SERC Survey Fall 2013 Kjerland, Iverson, Gregg- Jolly and Swartz) Ave: 5.2 StDev =Low 7=High  What positive interactions do you have with people on campus?  In what areas of Noyce are you most comfortable?  What activities do you do that make you feel engaged with others at Grinnell and in the sciences at Grinnell?  Have you been to a seminar this semester? Ave: 5.6 StDev 1.56

Second Year Retreat Reflections with Peer leaders Alumni Panel: What mattered most in your education? Skit on group work problems Breakout sessions – Summer research opportunities at Grinnell and elsewhere – Working effectively with your advisor – Staying well – Challenge activities

Comments from Students Sometimes when I work in groups, other students (white students) do not pay attention to me or allow me to fully participate. Sometimes it almost seems like I am not there. I often wish that I was in a group of students that look like me, so that we could support one another. Sometimes I am placed in a group of just students of color. That feels like we are being marginalized and that we are not worthy of joining the other groups (of majority students). I wonder what the other students think of our groups, and if we are not capable of fully participating. When we are asked to form groups in lab, I am always the last to get a partner. I often get paired with a student who chronically comes late to lab. That makes me feel inferior. It also impairs my ability to do high quality work if I am always paired with a student who does not put in the effort.

Comments from Students Other students assume that I was admitted to college due to affirmative action, and that my qualifications do not justify me being a student here. It is easy to feel isolated, but professors often look at me when they are making negative comments, and it makes me think that other students feel like I am not competent. Some professors seem to not be able to make eye contact with me. When they are talking to me and other students, they always look at the other students, but not at me. When they are making encouraging comments to the class or a group they look at white students, but when making negative comments, they look at the minority students. In my high school the kind of learning that was emphasized was comprehension of a lot of information, but now I am being asked to familiarize myself with and manipulate concepts. Students from more affluent high schools seem to have had more experience in doing this type of thing, and that makes me feel inadequate, due to no fault of my own.