Citation
Costello, C. (2012). Increasing opportunities for low-income women and student parents in science, technology, engineering, and math at community colleges. Washington, DC: Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
Highlights
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- This study examined the enrollment patterns for low-income women and students with children (including mostly mothers and some fathers, collectively referred to as student parents) in STEM fields at community colleges in the United States, comparing outcomes for 2000–2001 to 2008–2009. In addition, the study presented examples of promising strategies to encourage low-income women and student parents to participate in STEM education at community colleges.
- To assess the involvement of low-income women and student parents in STEM fields at community colleges, the author analyzed publicly available data, including data from the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Center for Education Statistics at the U.S. Department of Education. The author also completed a review of existing programs at community colleges that encourage low-income women and student parents to participate in STEM fields, and consulted with 16 experts to formulate suggestions for additional programs to support these students in STEM fields.
- The study found that in the 2008–2009 school year, women earned 22 percent of associate’s degrees awarded in STEM fields—a 7 percentage point reduction in the proportion of STEM associate degrees earned by women eight years earlier. The study also found that, in 2008, roughly one-third of community college students were parents and student parents with children younger than 12 who ultimately earned a baccalaureate or master’s degree in a STEM field were more likely to have attended a community college at some point than students without young children.
- Given the decline in women’s share of STEM associate degrees earned over the study observation period, as well as the high proportion of student parents in STEM fields who attend community colleges (compared with students without young children), the author highlighted potential strategies to increase and improve the involvement of low-income women and student parents in STEM fields at community colleges, including targeted recruitment, financial support, child care services, strong developmental education options, and specific counseling and academic support for women. These recommendations were informed by information gathered from existing programs and consultation with experts.
Reviewed by CLEAR
March 2016