Examining the Effects of the COVID-19 Interruptions on First-Year Engineering Persistence at Two Diverse Institutions

• In Event: Postsecondary Pathways for Students in STEM Majors

Abstract

Our study examined first-year engineering students' persistence pre- and amidst COVID-19 interruptions and whether their characteristics predicted their persistence at the HSI and HBCU. Using logistic regression modeling, we compared the persistence of three cohorts at each and across institutions. Both institutions reported fewer engineering freshmen dropping out during COVID-19 interruptions compared to their pre-COVID cohort peers. First-year engineering students with higher SAT math scores had a lower likelihood of leaving engineering at the HSI, but students who had a medium level of financial need and were first-generation students had a higher chance of leaving engineering. At the HBCU, students with higher SAT composite scores had a lower chance of leaving engineering, while first-generation students did more.

Authors

• Syahrul Amin, Texas A&M University

• Karen E. Rambo-Hernandez, Texas A&M University

• Blaine Pedersen, NWEA

• Bimal P Nepal, Texas A&M University

• Camille S Burnett, Prairie View A&M University

• Noemi Mendoza Diaz, Texas A&M University