Exploring and Developing Hispanic STEM Education in West Texas

Abstract

Over the last six academic years (2005-2012), #### University (#####) has experienced a major increase in the number of first-time-in college, first-generation, Hispanic students from the Texas Panhandle choosing to major in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. This underrepresented population of STEM majors at ##### has increased by 152% from 103 to 260 which is considerably higher than the overall increase in STEM students (56%) and the overall increase in the Hispanic student population at ##### (64%). This rapid growth greatly outpaces the increase in the regional K-12 Hispanic population, which is 20.13% since 2005. Because of the national need for a diverse STEM workforce and the rapidly growing Hispanic population of Texas as well as in the rest of the country, it is imperative that we understand what is occurring to spur this increase in Hispanic STEM student enrollment. The majority of the research conducted on factors that influence Hispanic student choice of institution and STEM major, and factors which influence their success has been conducted using sample student populations from primarily urban populations. Little research has investigated the rural Hispanic student population. The predominantly young Hispanic population is rapidly migrating across the country, including the rural U.S. and spurring population increases with high birth-to-death ratios. If, as the research indicates Hispanic students are choosing postsecondary institutions due to proximity to family, cost and size of the institution, then the impact of rural regional institutions will be substantial in the immediate future. The goal of this exploratory, two-phase, sequential mixed methods study is to develop testable hypotheses about the sources of the large recent increases in Hispanic student enrollments in STEM fields of the Texas Panhandle region as well to offer recommendations about how this growth can be supported and enhanced. In the first phase and primary focus of this proposal, the choice of STEM major and institution and elements influencing this choice will be initially explored using qualitative interviews to develop a grounded theory to explain the significant increase of Hispanic STEM students enrolled at #####. The results of the qualitative analysis will lead to a quantitative investigation that will develop and test a survey instrument designed to verify the initial qualitative results and measure the relationship between influences identified by the rural Hispanic students. Identification of the predominant influences on the growth of rural, first generation Hispanic students in STEM fields can transform the strategies used for the recruitment and retention nationwide. As Hispanic students continue to choose institutions that are close to home and family, the importance of regional institutions in expanding the STEM pipeline will grow. This exploratory study will lead to identification of current phenomena in the dramatic increase that has been elucidated in Texas and through dissemination to K-12 education, STEM education, and higher education administration, spur future research on Hispanic STEM student success and education.