Promoting Success Among Latinx STEM College Students Through a Culturally Enhanced Research Experience

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: New Developments and Findings in STEM College Degree Success

Abstract

This study aims to determine if a culturally-enhanced research program that focuses on increasing social capital through high-impact practices can increase Latinx students success in STEM majors in college. Participants were 160 Latinx STEM undergraduate students at a large, urban, public research university. Results showed that research fellows earned more credits and were more likely to be retained compared to students in a control group derived through propensity-score analysis. These findings are particularly important because students, in general, were successful as evidenced by their strong GPA in the first term of the program. Thus, while students in both groups were academically successful, the program provided students the opportunity to make greater progress towards their degrees and remain in school.

Authors

• Sue P Farruggia, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Aixa Alfonso, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Veronica I Arreola, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Bernard Santarsiero, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Jorge Alberto Girotti, UIC College of Medicine

• Carlos Rosas, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Carol R. Fendt, University of Illinois at Chicago