Does Faculty Support Predict College Seniors' Intention to Pursue Science Careers?

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Thirteen
  In Roundtable Session: Faculty Studying Student Learning (Table 8)

Abstract

This study examined the relation between faculty support and college seniors’ intention to pursue science careers. Two aspects of faculty support were included: (1) actual support that measures the amount of support students received from faculty and (2) perceived support that measures the degree to which students felt supported. Using a sample of 96 college senior who majored in STEM, the study found that actual support predicted students’ intention to pursue science careers directly as well as indirectly through their sense of belonging to science. Perceived support did not predict students’ intention to pursue science careers. These findings suggest the importance of faculty providing support to foster students’ sense of belonging and ultimately increase their intention to pursue science careers.

Authors

• Shuyan Sun, University of Maryland - Baltimore County
  Presenting Author

• Allison French, University of Maryland - Baltimore County
  Presenting Author