Applying an Integrative Climate Framework to Engineering Doctoral Education: Experiences of Students With Minoritized Sexual Identities

• In Event: Breaking Barriers: Surviving and Thriving in Professions Education

Abstract

Our work centers on the lived experiences of students with minoritized sexual identities (SMSI) to understand their perceptions of organizational climate in their academic departments, which addresses several gaps in the literature. Applying an integrative climate framework, we interviewed engineering doctoral students minoritized based on their sexual identity as well as racial/ethnic and/or gender identity to investigate which organizational climates associated with retention they perceived. We analyzed interview transcripts to understand the narratives of their lived experiences and how they perceived policies, practices, procedures, and behaviors in their academic departments. We then categorized these perceptions into themes within our integrated climate framework.

Authors

• Julie Aldridge, The Ohio State University

• Nicole M. Else-Quest, University of California - Los Angeles

• So Yoon Yoon, University of Cincinnati