How Do Underrepresented Minority (URM) Students Experience a STEM-Based eMentoring Program? A Focus Group Study

• In Event: Mentoring Ethnic/Racial-Minority Students Through Various Lenses

Abstract

The following focus group study examines how underrepresented minorities (URM) experience a STEM-based Ementoring program. Following the 16-week eSTEM program, mentors and mentees participated in two (2) separate Focus Group Interview sessions which were guided by the overarching research question; what program elements do participants report influence successful implementation of the eSTEM program? A semi-structured interview technique was used to allow flexibility in probing participants’ ideas, posing additional questions, and asking for clarification (Adams, 2015). We used qualitative content analysis (Schreier, 2014) to analyze the focus group interview transcripts inductively and deductively. Most often participants reported positive perceptions about the near peer component of the program and the STEM short course component. Participants also shared some challenges of the program.

Authors

• Gary William Wright, III, University of Missouri
  Presenting Author

• Niloufar Bayati, North Carolina State University
  Presenting Author

• Cameron DeLeon Denson, One Enigma
  Presenting Author

• Teomara Rutherford, University of Delaware
  Presenting Author