In this this article we discuss findings from an investigation of whether female student teachers would choose to study mathematics if it were optional for primary teacher education in Malawi. A mixed methods research methodology was used to collect data through survey and focus group discussions (FGDs). Five hundred and twenty three female…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities transitioned their face-to-face courses to emergency remote online courses during the spring of 2020. This study, conducted at a large, urban, diverse public university in the United States, answers the questions of how the sudden switch to emergency remote online instruction and…

Despite underrepresentation patterns in women minorities in STEM fields, a growing number are completing degrees. Exploring factors which serve as contributors to success in science are critical to broaden participation. STEM college faculty can serve as key contributors to the success of these students and exploring ways that faculty support…

NASA created the University Leadership Initiative (ULI) to engage creative and innovative minds in the academic arena to identify significant aeronautics and aviation research challenges and define their unique approach to their solution. The ULI was started in 2015 as part of the larger University Innovation Project, with the goal of seeking new,…

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices has assisted 23 states and territories in their efforts to scale high-quality work-based learning programs since 2016. Rhode Island has been engaged with the Policy Academy on Scaling Work-Based Learning since 2017 -- the same year that state policymakers launched an initiative aimed at…

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Chicana community college students who transferred to a four-year institution earning a baccalaureate degree and eventually a doctorate degree of education (Ed.D.). Their stories were viewed using Critical Race Theory (CRT), Latino Critical Theory (LatCrit), and Community Cultural Wealth…

The trend data detailed in this "Focus On" includes doctorates from the class of 2019. It presents data on the number of physics PhDs awarded in the U.S. including data on citizenship, women, and PhDs from underrepresented groups. It also includes data on educational background, time to degree, subfield of dissertation, and general…

African American, Latinx, and economically disadvantaged students are underrepresented and under-identified for gifted programs. The problem addressed in this study was the identification of gifted students of color and economically disadvantaged students were not proportionate to their representation in the student population in a Title I school…

Careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are increasing but the number of qualified individuals to fill these positions are not meeting the demand. One way to increase the number of qualified STEM employees is to garner the interest of students from underrepresented groups in the STEM fields. One of these…

This study used qualitative constructivist grounded theory research methods to explore with focus groups of 16 racial/ethnic minority undergraduates underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) their experiences of microaggressions, sense of belonging in STEM, and their strategies to negotiate these experiences.…

This study sought to understand how underrepresented racially minoritized and first-generation college students experienced and made sense of the challenges from taking introductory sciences courses in their first year at a small liberal arts college. Metacognition was the theoretical framework in consideration due to its non-disciplinarity and…

The purpose of this study was to learn more about the experiences and perceptions of African American, Latinx, and South Asian American girls of color in academically driven programs in an urban high school. The literature is clear that girls of color are underrepresented in International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), and Dual…

Research highlights various barriers within the U.S educational system for underserved populations, more specifically for low-income families, which create gaps in students learning and achievement. Differential ability, susceptibility, or differential in opportunity are some causes of inequity in access. Additionally, research leads to unfairness…

Adjunct faculty have become the new majority faculty on campuses across the country. There are two theories why adjunct faculty are so relied upon: cost or contingency. Some institutions may employ adjunct faculty for cost-savings reasons. In contrast, other institutions may depend on the contingent, temporary nature of the employment contracts to…

This qualitative study examined how race and class shaped the college choice process and collegiate experiences of 14 Black undergraduate students attending four Ivy League institutions. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed through the lens of critical race theory and sociocultural theory. Findings revealed how the interrelatedness of race,…