Perceived Discrimination and Dropout Intentions of Underrepresented Minority Students in Engineering Degrees

Abstract

Contribution: The present research provides new evidence on the predictors of foreign-born (FB) students’ dropout and the situations of discrimination that emerge on engineering campuses. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Background:</i> Ethnic minority students remain underrepresented in engineering degrees and have higher dropout rates than their White peers. Previous literature pointed out discrimination as a possible cause of these disparities. However, little is known about the factors that trigger these discriminations and to which extent discrimination can predict students’ dropout. Knowing this information will help institutions and governments establish support plans for underrepresented students to increase their participation in engineering degrees. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Research Questions:</i> 1) Do native-born (NB) and FB students enrolled in engineering degrees differ in their levels of academic satisfaction, self-esteem, perceived discrimination, and dropout intentions? 2) What factors predict the likelihood that FB students would drop out of engineering degrees? 3) What main factors make FB students feel discriminated against on engineering campuses? <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Methodology:</i> A sample of 602 undergraduate engineering students answered a questionnaire, and descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Findings:</i> FB students reported significantly lower self-esteem than NB students. Contrary to what was expected, FB students did not report significantly higher dropout intentions and perceived discrimination than NB students; possible reasons are discussed. Academic satisfaction, self-esteem, and perceived discrimination were significant predictors of FB students’ dropout intentions, with perceived discrimination being the strongest predictor in students most at risk of dropping out. Finally, the study identifies the most relevant reasons, situations, and people causing discrimination on engineering campuses.