Term: Spring 2016

Description:

The purpose of this assignment is for students to gain experience in conducting a qualitative research project and also to gain understanding of the experience of a specific demographic population of college students

This research project focused on how participants’ curricular and co-curricular experiences affected the persistence of students of color in STEM majors in their third, fourth, or fifth year of their undergraduate careers. The focus was on the student experience or programs implemented to assist in student graduation. This study attempts to uncover commonalities among third and fourth year students of color that ultimately drive them towards graduation in order to assist faculty members and student affairs professionals to best support future students to persist within these majors through intentional strategies.

Learning Domains

1.      Education

2.      Personal and Professional Development

3.      Social Justice and Advocacy

Student Learning Outcome:

1.      Student will be able to conduct interviews and detailed information about students of color in STEM that is mirrored in their experiences.

2.      Students will be able to work cohesively with team members and present the conducted research

SLO	Advanced	Competent	Basic	Poor
Student will be able to conduct interviews and detailed information about students of color in STEM that is mirrored in their experiences.	Student successfully created a research paper reflective of information and interviews	Student created a satisfactory research paper reflective of information and interviews conducted	Student created a research paper scarcely reflective of information and interviews	Student unsuccessfully created a research paper unreflective of information and interviews
Students will be able to work cohesively with team members and present the conducted research	Student exceptionally and effectively collaborated with group members	Student sufficiently worked with group members	Student had minimal interaction with group members	Student did not collaborate with group members

Reflection:

In the beginning stages of our group, we brainstormed a various amount of student population groups that we found interest in. After the difficult task of reducing the topics to only one, we decided to do research on Students of Color in STEM. As we began to do our research, we realized that it was a lot of literature on the student population. As a group, we worked really well trying to spread out responsibility equally throughout the group. This was a rigorous task due to our various amounts of talents and skills sets. Ultimately, we were able to get it done. The group was really supportive. As a student parent, at times, I wasn’t able to make meetings, even sometimes I was late, but the group was very understanding and made sure I was able to get insight and information via google. My group colleagues were very supportive and mad the experience really fun. As a student affairs practitioner, it was really interesting to learn about some of the strategies that are being implemented to support students of color in STEM. The process of interviewing students and hearing about their lived experiences in the field of STEM was a great experience. Students sometimes need outlets and platforms to reflect on their experiences. I also enjoyed presenting. I considered myself an okay public speaker, but doing the trend analysis and the final presentation was really good practice because I felt confident and I learned how my style is. My group members really supported me and affirmed me after each presentation. Qualitative research is actually much more fun than quantitative research. I enjoyed the process of learning about their experiences and learning about strategic ways to support that student population.