Search

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional societies (ProS) are uniquely positioned to foster national-level diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) reform. ProS serve broad memberships, define disciplinary norms and culture, and inform accrediting bodies, thus providing "excellent leverage with which to design and promote change" (National Academy of Sciences et al., 2005). ProS could be instrumental in achieving the DEI culture reform necessary to optimize engagement of all STEM talent by leveraging disciplinary excellence resulting from diverse teams. Inclusive STEM culture reform requires that underlying "mental models'' be examined (Kania et al., 2018). The "Inclusive Professional Framework for Societies (IPF:Societies)" can help ProS change leaders (i.e., "boundary spanners'") and organizations identify and address mental models hindering DEI reform. "IPF:Societies" uses four "I's"--Identity awareness and Intercultural mindfulness (i.e., equity mindset) on which Inclusive relationships and Influential DEI actions are scaffolded. We discuss how "IPF:Societies" complements existing DEI tools. We explain how "IPF:Societies" can be applied to existing ProS policy and practice associated with common ProS functions (e.g., leadership, membership, conferences, awards, and professional development). Next steps are to pilot "IPF:Societies" with a cohort of STEM ProS. Ultimately, "IPF:Societies" has potential to promote more efficient, effective, and lasting DEI organizational transformation, and contribute to inclusive STEM disciplinary excellence.

One of the problematic features of the increasingly influential discourse of student employability in higher education is the widespread conception of "skills" as de-contextualized bits of knowledge, ability, and disposition. Instead, how particular competencies are valued, defined, and utilized in practice is deeply shaped by sociocultural, political, and situational factors. The effect of these influences is especially relevant for communication skills, which are widely viewed as critical for employability. In this study we examine how nursing and engineering experts and novices conceptualize communication within specific situations. The data highlight distinct ways respondents define communication and the role of contextual and cultural factors in shaping these perspectives, and how views of "acceptable" communication risk reifying norms of dominant classes while ignoring cultural variability.

This paper examines evidence from the HESA DLHE six-month Censuses and 3½ year ('longitudinal') surveys relating to three aspects of the flows of those who have left university with Higher Education Engineering qualifications, to test the robustness of the conclusions of SKOPE Research Paper No. 122 (Dixon, 2015), which showed strong evidence that most Engineering graduates do not go on to work in the sectors of the economy that might be expected, in particular in the 'natural' Manufacturing sub-sector. Specifically, the paper examines three questions: (1) whether evidence of starting salary levels for those from particular disciplines going into particular sectors could explain the relative flows (on the assumption that higher salaries for graduate vacancies in a particular sector would attract more applications); (2) whether evidence of sector destinations three years on from the (six-month after graduation) Census data analysed in Dixon (2015) would show up significantly different levels of 'leakage'; and (3) whether those entering employment having completed Taught Masters (as opposed to First Degree) courses in particular Engineering disciplines would tend (in the light of their apparent greater interest and deeper understanding in the specific discipline) to enter the "expected" sectors more than their Bachelors colleagues. The "bottom line" answers to these questions is that -- with rather minor exceptions -- none of the relevant broader evidence from HESA DLHE data over a ten-year period significantly questions the very considerable 'leakage', away from the 'natural' Manufacturing sub-sector, that was found and presented in Dixon (2015). (1) There is "some" correlation between the "average salaries offered" (by employers in each 'destination' sector to cohorts from each Engineering discipline examined) and the "size of the flows" from each discipline into each sector, but it is limited and rarely strong. While there might be reasons why average salary differences might not be large enough to provide a sufficient incentive for Engineering graduates to choose one sector over another, evidence of considerably greater correlation would have been helpful to justify the traditional response of classical economics to employers' concerns about shortages: "offer more money"! (2) While there are sample size issues constraining the statistical precision of comparisons between the two DLHE surveys, these have been addressed, and comparisons of the "linear flows" of graduates from each discipline into the natural Manufacturing sub-sector show (a) comparatively very small differences, and (b) on balance, slightly "greater" 'leakage' three years on; and (3) More MSc's in "Automotive" and "Aerospace Engineering" have, over the ten years examined, then gone into the "Manufacture of Motor Vehicles"... and "Air and Space craft manufacture" (respectively) than BEng's from these disciplines. However, for the other disciplines compared, there is little difference, and -- in terms of entry into Manufacturing as a whole, for the most recent year in the period - the fraction of the disciplinary cohorts entering "any type of Manufacturing" is slightly "higher" for MSc's than First Degree (FD) graduates in "three" Engineering disciplines, though "lower" for MSc's than FD's in "four"! This new evidence, therefore, only serves to "strengthen" the great importance of NOT assuming linear flows of Engineering graduates into the "natural" Manufacturing sub-sectors corresponding to their discipline, in particular in policy responses to reports of shortages from such sub-sectors.

A defining characteristic of current U.S. educational policy is the use of data to inform decisions about resource allocation, teacher hiring, and curriculum and instruction. Perhaps the biggest challenge to data-driven decision making (DDDM) is that data use alone does not automatically result in improved teaching and learning. Research indicates that translating raw data into useable information and actionable knowledge for teachers requires not only adequate technical and social supports, but also an awareness of how educators in real-world settings actually use information to make decisions. Yet, little is known about DDDM in higher education, in general, and how postsecondary faculty make sense of and use data in their instructional decision-making processes, in particular. In this paper, we use naturalistic decision-making theory to generate practice-based descriptions of how 59 STEM faculty at three large public research universities used data as part of their course planning. Interview transcripts and notes taken while observing planning meetings were analyzed using an inductive approach to content analysis. In practice, respondents used different types of data and other information obtained from, for example, student assessments, end-of-semester evaluations, and conversations with colleagues. Results indicate that faculty generally collect and analyze data in informal, ad hoc scenarios ungoverned by institutional policy. Exceptions include disciplines with accreditation pressures and team-taught courses where structured (and supported) opportunities exist for faculty to collect, analyze, and reflect upon data about student learning. Thus, while numeric data are clearly viewed by this population of faculty as the most rigorous, in practice, even those that use quantitative data also use other sources of information. These results suggest an opportunity for educational leaders to design policies and professional development initiatives that facilitate a more formal collection of and reflection on data by faculty. In pursuing such technical solutions, however, policymakers and educational leaders must carefully negotiate the tension between rigor and relevance, and learn from the challenges experienced in the K-12 sector regarding DDDM.

The rapid proliferation of technology can have profound effects on the evolution of teaching, learning, scholarship, and governance in higher education (Katz, 2008). However, instructors report that simply "keeping up" with new instructional technologies, let alone integrating them productively into one's teaching, can be a significant challenge (Sorcinelli, Austin, Eddy, & Beach, 2006; Zhu, Kaplan, & Dershimer, 2011). This Occasional Paper describes how instructors at the University of Michigan are currently using online collaboration tools (hereafter OCTs) in a variety of disciplines and teaching contexts to enhance student engagement and course management. Based on these cases and faculty interviews, the authors also outline recommendations for implementing OCTs effectively and efficiently in teaching.

This paper presents part of the results of a completed study entitled "A Longitudinal Study of Minority Ph.D.s from 1980-1990: Progress and Outcomes in Science and Engineering at the University of California during Graduate School and Professional Life." It focuses particularly on the graduate school experience and degree of preparation for the professoriate of African American doctoral students in the sciences and engineering, and presents the results of a survey of 33 African American STEM Ph.D.s from the University of California earned between 1980-1990. Relationships with thesis advisors and principal investigators are evaluated by the study participants in fifteen specific areas from highly-ranked intellectual development to low-ranked training in grant writing. Deficits in training and socialization are discussed along with the tension between being both an African American and a graduate student. Career choices and outcomes are presented. These findings, in conjunction with current analyses of graduate education in STEM, suggest ways in which graduate training for all could be improved. (Contains 1 table.) [Financial support for this project was provided by the U.C. Industry-University Cooperative Research Program; and the U.C. Berkeley Graduate Division.]

Using data from the 2008 University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey, we show that study time and academic conscientiousness were lower among students in humanities and social science majors than among students in science and engineering majors. Analytical and critical thinking experiences were no more evident among humanities and social sciences majors than among science and engineering majors. All three academically beneficial experiences were, however, strongly related to participation in class and interaction with instructors, and participation was more common among humanities and social sciences students than among science and engineering students. Bok's (2006) influential discussion of "underachievement" in undergraduate education focused on institutional performance. Our findings indicate that future discussions should take into account differences among disciplinary categories and majors as well. (Contains 4 tables and 13 footnotes.)

This study was conducted to ascertain the factors associated with attrition in engineering programs on all fronts. Academic underpreparedness, psychosocial variables, and their interconnectivity were examined. Subjects included all enrolled University of Alabama students, as of the spring term 2001, who at one time or another were classified as engineering majors. This resulted in the identification of 1,395 current and 536 former majors. Data were obtained from the university's database and Web-based and paper surveys. Findings from the research show that attrition cannot be viewed as a predictable consequence of differing levels of ability. Academic underpreparedness was found to be a substantial determinant in engineering persistence. However, other nonpreparedness variables were found to contribute to attrition as well, Predicting success in the College of Engineering, or any college, is difficult because of the infinite antecedent variables each student brings to higher education. Data seem to indicate that most of the factors associated with attrition from the College of Engineering are precollege attributes, academic underpreparedness, ignorance about engineering, or calculation to leave after a certain time frame. Other factors that need to be considered are the pedagogical methods of gateway and engineering courses and increasing the student's sense of belonging within the college and university. (Contains 16 tables and 35 references.)(SLD)

There is strong interest in broadening engineering education, bringing in more liberal arts content as well as additional subjects such as economics, business and law, with which engineers now have to be familiar. There are also cogent arguments for balancing against what is now the almost exclusively quantitative nature of the curriculum, adding more elements that relate to the actual practice of engineering, and structuring engineering education so as to provide multiple and later entry points, which should enable more informed career choices and make engineering attractive to a more diverse range of the population. Many have also sought a change in the level of the professional engineering degree from the bachelor's to the graduate level, which would logically, and probably also necessarily, accompany these changes. However, progress towards such changes in the United States has been marginal, in large part because incentives on the micro- and meso-scales do not match those on the macro-scale. On the other hand, there is much more substantial change in other countries, driven in part by the Bologna process. For the United States to be the last to change would be counter to the goal of retaining higher-functioning engineering jobs in the U. S. What needs to happen in order for the U. S. to change is evaluated. (Contains 37 endnotes.)

Disciplines codify related knowledge and have developed powerful approaches that enable both solutions to a wide variety of problems and efficient further extension of knowledge. Individual disciplines have translated into individual departments within universities. Academic departments tend to turn inward, deepening the knowledge within the discipline. Because of this inwardness, the differing methodological approaches among disciplines, and the reward systems within disciplines and universities, it is difficult for faculty to reach outside their disciplines and departments, so as to share knowledge and/or mine knowledge at the intersections of disciplines. However, world needs and opportunities are increasingly complex and require integrated, in-depth contributions from multiple disciplines for progress. Means for universities to encourage and facilitate multidisciplinary activities include organizational structure, incentive budgeting, and leadership and resources that enable directors of multidisciplinary units to negotiate effectively with academic department chairs. Major competitive initiatives involving large resources have proven particularly effective. New universities have opportunities for multidisciplinary research and teaching that would be much more difficult within existing universities. Today's university graduates must be able to work effectively with persons from other disciplines and understand enough of the basic vocabulary and methodologies of other disciplines to enable that collaboration. A liberal undergraduate education addresses those needs, where the definition of "liberal" encompasses courses reflecting many different disciplines, including the natural sciences and even some engineering. Professions are properly placed at the graduate level, built upon a foundational liberal education. Engineering should join the other professions by changing to that structure. (Contains 23 endnotes.)

The purpose of this study was to explore and develop baseline understandings of the purposes, character (i.e., cultural, teaching/learning, curricular practices), quality, and outcomes associated with doctoral education in four professional fields of study: clinical psychology, electrical engineering, nursing, and school administration. The analysis is based on 3 programs in each of these 4 fields and interviews with 148 stakeholders (faculty, administrators, students, and alumni). Through these interviews, five teaching and learning practices were identified that, from the perspectives of those interviewed, enrich students' doctoral experiences in ways that contribute meaningfully to learning and development. These areas are: (1) the problematization of professional knowledge and practice; (2) the use of relational teaching and learning throughout the doctoral experience; (3) an emphasis on integrative inquiry; (4) individualized mentoring of students; and (5) student engagement in authentic, research-based discovery activities. Taken together these five teaching and learning practices form a learning environment, a culture, that appears to value collegial and reciprocal engagement among faculty and students in a community of practice. (Contains 54 references.) (SLD)

This study compared the effects of personal characteristics and teaching practices in the development of professional competencies by undergraduate engineering students. A survey completed by 480 engineering students gathered information concerning students' personal, academic, and demographic characteristics; characteristics of their current engineering course; and their self-evaluation of progress made in various areas as a result of their current course. Results indicated that self-evaluated gains in group, problem-solving, and design skills were more the result of current teaching practices than the outcome of students' precollege characteristics. Results suggest that gains in professional competencies can be fostered in the classroom by frequent interaction with and feedback from the instructor, frequent opportunities to work collaboratively with peers, and by clear instructions and structure provided by the instructor. No significant differences were found between male and female students. An appendix lists engineering program accreditation criteria. (Contains 62 references.) (DB)

A study was done to lay the foundation for a rigorous analysis and assessment of the functioning of the Canadian academic labor market and to begin to explore systematically the dynamic of faculty renewal and replacement. The study used data from Statistics Canada and investigated the functioning and prospects of the Canadian academic labor market at the aggregate level of total full-time faculty. Analysis was at the "system" rather than discipline level with projections to the year 2000. The findings indicated that for the period 1990 to 2000 annual faculty requirements are projected to increase faster than the number of doctoral graduates. At the aggregate level, critical shortages will develop in selected disciplines particularly in natural sciences and engineering. Furthermore, anticipated faculty shortages in the United States could exacerbate the projected Canadian shortages by drawing Canadians to positions out of the country. The study's projections suggest that Canadian universities must maintain or increase their share of doctoral graduates, expand doctoral programs especially in the natural sciences, and reduce the number of faculty who leave academic faculties for reasons other than retirement. An appendix contains 18 tables and a bibliography lists 18 items. (JB)

Several central ideas emerging from a systematic approach to teaching problem-solving in the quantitative sciences (chemistry, physics, engineering) are discussed. Areas addressed include: differences between teaching and performance, between naturalistic and effective functioning, and between detailed observations and gross statistical data; insights derived from naturalistic studies, focusing on preexisting knowledge of students, tacit knowledge of experts, and significant differences between problem-solving behaviors of students and of experts; and kinds of procedures and knowledge essential for good human problem-solving performance, pointing out general issues addressed by any theoretical model of good problem-solving and discussing characteristics of the knowledge base containing knowledge about a specific domain. Problem-solving procedures considered include initial problem description, synthesis of the problem, and assessment/improvement of the solution. Current problem-solving activities in science teaching (focusing on student behaviors and instructional practices) are addressed, followed by a discussion of improved methods for teaching problem-solving. These methods include teaching explicitly and separately the various kinds of knowledge essential for good problem-solving performance (including knowledge of how to describe problem effectively), procedures useful for making judicious decisions in search for solutions, procedures for assessing solutions for correctness/optimality, and methods for organizing large amounts of knowledge so information can be easily recalled/remembered. (JN)

This collection of essays is the second volume in a series of working papers from Lehigh University Technology Studies Resource Center. The papers focus on the ethical implications of engineering as a profession and the current problems associated with the public responsibility of engineers. Issues that relate to the ethical dimensions of conflicts of interest, competitive bidding, employer-employee relationships and private interests within corporate processes are discussed. Collectively the essays offer a set of perspectives on the development of a practical ethical approach to engineering and current technologic society. Papers in this volume include: (1) "Ethics in Engineering: A Pressing Need" by Stephen Unger; (2) "Principles of Responsibility for Professional Practice" by Charles Reynolds; (3) "The Irrelevance of Ethical Theory: The Virtue of Casuistry" by Karl Pavlovic; (4) "Engineering and Ethics: Some Comments" by Joseph Volpi; and (5) "The Nature of Engineering Ethics: Preliminary Considerations" by Heinz Luegenbiehl. (ML)

Factors that influenced applicants' decisions to attend Tufts University, a private institution in Massachusetts, were studied based on a 1985 survey. Enrollment decisions were examined for the following groups: matriculants and nonmatriculants, liberal arts and engineering applicants, applicants from each of seven geographic regions, applicants who chose to attend Tufts over six top competitors, and applicants who chose to attend public institutions. Applicants completed a survey and listed in order of importance the three factors that most influenced their final college choice. Location was one of the most frequently cited factors for the total sample and for each of the subgroups examined. Both institutional prestige and academic reputation were frequently cited as important factors in the final college choice by accepted applicants. Size was an important factor for students selecting Tufts over some of its major competitors, while finances were an important factor for students who decided to attend public universiites. Factors that were cited less frequently were: the social environment, the adult influence, admissions activities, athletics, and postgraduate jobs. (SW)

A search of literature was conducted to address whether and how the Federal Government should do more to encourage U.S. students to complete degrees, especially graduate degrees, in science and engineering. Science was defined to include all of natural science, including mathematics and computer science, but to exclude social and behavioral sciences. The study found that the number of U.S. citizens earning doctorates in science and engineering in 1987 was 9,724. This number is not enough to replace scientists and engineers who die or retire, but the number is greatly augmented by foreign residents who receive doctorates and remain in the United States. The level of science and engineering doctorate awards to U.S. citizens has been constant since 1976. Until now, the number of degrees awarded has usually been sufficient to meet employment needs, with the labor market expanding and contracting and student enrollments following suit, after a lag. However, although shortages are not widespread at present, there are general persistent shortages of personnel in computer science and engineering, and sometimes in mathematics and environmental and physical sciences. Federal intervention in the science and engineering job market can be made through graduate fellowships and traineeships, research assistanceships, forgivable loans, precollege programs, tax incentives, undergraduate assistance, and employee educational assistance, but such intervention has both pros and cons. (59 references) (KC)

The rapid adoption of information technology and ubiquitous networking has transformed the research and education landscape. Central to this transformation are scientific and engineering digital data collections. The life cycle management challenges associated with these intellectual assets are substantial. This is a report of a two-day workshop that examined the role of research and academic libraries with other partners in the stewardship of scientific and engineering digital data. Workshop participants explored issues concerning the need for new partnerships and collaborations among domain scientists, librarians, and data scientists to better manage digital data collections; necessary infrastructure development to support digital data; and the need for sustainable economic models to support long-term stewardship of scientific and engineering digital data for the nation's cyberinfrastructure. The workshop builds on prior studies supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), engaging numerous research communities. It reflects the recognition, voiced in many NSF workshop reports, that digital data stewardship is fundamental to the future of scientific and engineering research and the education enterprise, and hence to innovation and competitiveness. Overall, it is clear that an ecology of institutional arrangements among individuals and organizations, sharing an infrastructure, will be required to address the particularities of heterogeneous digital data and diverse scholarly and professional cultures. The background of the workshop is described in Chapter I. Descriptions of the discussions of the three major topics from the three breakout groups and in plenary sessions are provided in Chapters II, III, and IV, and Chapter V discusses additional topics raised in the plenary sessions and final recommendations. Appended are: (1) List of Participants; (2) Agenda; (3) Plenary Papers; (4) Breakout Session Reports; (5) Position Papers; and (6) Examples of Scientific Community Archives. (Contains 11 figures, 2 boxes, 20 footnotes and 5 endnotes.)