National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop Elizabeth Litzler Climate for Graduate Students in Science and Engineering Departments: How CS Compares

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop Research Questions Are there gender differences in graduate student perceptions of climate in STEM departments? Does department climate influence commitment to STEM professional careers? How are perceptions of climate related to degree progress?

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop 2004 Methodology 62 Questions 19 Science and Engineering Departments 574 Participants, 47% response rate 37 CS students with gender info.

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop CS Demographics 30 doctoral, 7 professional masters US citizen or permanent resident 3 temporary visa

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop Gender Differences T-tests Gender Discrimination and Pace/Workload/Isolation For STEM sample and CS sample

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop Retention Variables Career Commitment To what extent has your academic experience in your department reaffirmed your career choice? 5 point scale from “not at all” to “very much”, divided into 3 categories: low, medium, and high commitment Degree Progress Completed each of 5 stages in degree, 1=yes, 0=no Classes and Coursework, Comprehensive or Qualifying Exam, Master’s Degree Earned, Advancement to Candidacy, Approval of Dissertation

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop Multinomial Logit Regression of Career Commitment Having a positive relationship with advisor, and having professors who are mentors or who care decreases the likelihood of low and medium career commitment relative to high career commitment Fast Pace/Workload/Isolation increases likelihood of low commitment relative to high commitment

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop CS parallels Using 3 significant factors from STEM multinomial regression, only having professors who are mentors or who care resulted in decreases in likelihood of being in low and medium categories relative to high commitment category. Bivariate correlation of low commitment (0/1) with professors who care is (p=.006) and with pace/workload/isolation at.342 (p=.041)

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop Logistic Regression of Degree Progress Classes & Coursework Comp. or Qual. Exams Master’s Degree Earned Advancement to Candidacy Approval of Diss. Proposal Year in Prog Female − Gender Disc. ++ Race Disc. Taken Serious Pace, Workload, Isol. −− Degree of Competition −− Relationship w. Advisor + Prof. are mentors/care

National Science Foundation Grant SBE October 8, 2006 Gender Diversity in Computing Workshop Discussion Continued chilly climate for women Career commitment related to climate “Push” factors affect degree progress early in degree Pace/Workload/Isolation in graduate school is related to career commitment and degree progress Having Professors who mentor or who care about student success affects career commitment (similar to other findings) Emphasize collaboration earlier in graduate programs