Diversifying a STEM Field and Social Capital Building

• In Event: Teaching and Learning in Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Roundtable 2: Race, Equity and Civic Engagement

Abstract

We focus on how Summer Bridge Programs can be evaluated to determine the importance of relationships between students, university employees, and industry partners. We find that, in the post-COVID era, students completing STEM Bridge Programs report the networks and relationships they build in and out of the classroom as impacting their decisions to complete college degrees and enter the workplace. Although previous work focuses on the importance of retention rates as success for these programs, we find that relationship building is a key motivating factor for these students, and this should be explored more deeply. This is especially important as we work to diversify STEM fields.

Authors

• Rebecca Trammell, Metropolitan State University of Denver

• Lisa Ratliff

• Michael Botyarov

• Jeffrey Forrest

• Roberto De Mata