Sense of Belonging Matters for Women of Color: Exploring Introductory General Chemistry Course Community College

• In Event: Research In Progress Roundtable Session 5
  In Invited Roundtable: Research on Community Colleges: Faculty Experiences, Sense of Belonging, and Institutional Responses to Changing Economic Environments (Table 1)

Abstract

Women of Color (WOC) in STEM often face a low sense of belonging (SOB) at both 2-year and 4-year institutions, impacting their persistence and representation in the STEM workforce. Few studies focus on SOB for WOC in introductory general chemistry courses (IGCC). This study investigates how faculty and peer interactions in introductory general chemistry courses (IGCC) at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) community college (CC) influence SOB and educational pathways. Surveys were distributed across three terms (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Fall 2024). Preliminary findings show WOC reports lower social and academic belonging than white peers, with Latinas experiencing the lowest SOB. These findings provide crucial implications to transform curricula and STEM environments that actively cultivate WOC’s sense of belonging.

Author

• Elizabeth Nguyen, San Diego State University