CUE releases policy report based on an NSF-funded study

The Center for Urban Education has released a policy report based on a three-year study funded by the National Science Foundation. “Pathways to STEM Bachelor’s and Graduate Degrees for Hispanic Students and the Role of Hispanic-Serving Institutions” focuses on gaining a better understanding of the determinants of Latina and Latino students’ in obtaining STEM bachelor’s and graduate degrees. The report, the first developed from CUE’s three-year study of Latina and Latino students in STEM, is also the first in a series to be released in the coming months.

In this report, we identify 25 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in five states as potential exemplars of effective practices for increasing the number of Latina and Latino bachelor’s degree holders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It shows that at the majority of these exemplary HSI colleges and universities, Latino students are represented nearly proportionally in STEM majors and among STEM graduates. Where Latinos are underrepresented in STEM, the gap does not typically exceed five percentage points.

We recommend that other institutions analyze the involvement of Latino students in STEM fields on their campuses and set performance benchmarks for equitable inclusion.

To view a summary of the project, click here. To view or print out a PDF version of the report, click here.