Growth of West Virginia STEM Education Network to Encourage Student Persistence

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Six
  In Roundtable Session: Practices and Processes for Undergraduate Student Success (Table 9)

Abstract

Social network analysis (SNA) is a broad collection of analytical techniques used to explore relationships between network participants and to study the social structures that develop as a consequence of these relationships. This study tracks the growth of a network of STEM educators, students, and organizations over a four-year period. The network as a whole has seen significant growth in its four years of operation. Further analysis of the network shows that the network growth is primarily fostered by new student connections, while the structure of faculty members and administrators in the network remains relatively constant. Students that were more connected within the network tended to have higher levels of persistence in their STEM degree.

Authors

• Christopher Mattthew Wheatley, West Virginia University
  Presenting Author

• Marjorie Darrah, West Virginia University
  Non-Presenting Author

• John C. Stewart, West Virginia University
  Non-Presenting Author