Broadening Participation in STEM Programs: Challenges and Proposed Solutions

• In Event: Ethical Engagement, STEM Programs, and Application of Machine Learning Techniques in Evaluation Research

Abstract

This study investigates barriers and solutions to broadening participation in STEM programs, drawing exclusively from the interview component of a larger participatory action research study. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted with principal investigators and evaluators of federally funded community college STEM initiatives to explore how DEI efforts are challenged and enacted in practice. While participants voiced strong commitments to DEI, they reported persistent issues including siloed initiatives, team-level tensions, and lack of actionable guidance. They proposed solutions such as stronger internal culture, deeper community engagement, and more meaningful qualitative data use. These findings offer grounded insight into the relational and structural conditions that shape equity work, aligning with AERA 2026’s theme of reimagining futures through inclusive, practice-based research.

Authors

• Roya Fathalizadeh, Arizona State University

• Neelakshi Rajeev Tewari, Arizona State University

• Tiffany Lee Smith Tovey, University of North Carolina - Greensboro

• Ayesha Boyce, Arizona State University