Toven-Lindsey Brit, Levis-Fitzgerald Marc, Barber Paul H, Hasson Tama
*Office of Instructional Development, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095.
CBE Life Sci Educ. 2015 Summer;14(2). doi: 10.1187/cbe.14-05-0082.
The 6-yr degree-completion rate of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors at U.S. colleges and universities is less than 40%. Persistence among women and underrepresented minorities (URMs), including African-American, Latino/a, Native American, and Pacific Islander students, is even more troubling, as these students leave STEM majors at significantly higher rates than their non-URM peers. This study utilizes a matched comparison group design to examine the academic achievement and persistence of students enrolled in the Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS), an academic support program at the University of California, Los Angeles, for first- and second-year science majors from underrepresented backgrounds. Results indicate that PEERS students, on average, earned higher grades in most "gatekeeper" chemistry and math courses, had a higher cumulative grade point average, completed more science courses, and persisted in a science major at significantly higher rates than the comparison group. With its holistic approach focused on academics, counseling, creating a supportive community, and exposure to research, the PEERS program serves as an excellent model for universities interested in and committed to improving persistence of underrepresented science majors and closing the achievement gap.
美国高校本科理工科、技术、工程和数学（STEM）专业学生的6年毕业率不到40%。女性以及包括非裔美国学生、拉丁裔学生、美国原住民学生和太平洋岛民学生在内的代表性不足的少数族裔学生的留校率问题更为严峻，因为这些学生离开STEM专业的比例远高于非代表性不足少数族裔的同龄人。本研究采用匹配对照组设计，以考察参加“科学教育与研究卓越计划”（PEERS）的学生的学业成绩和留校情况。PEERS是加州大学洛杉矶分校为背景代表性不足的一、二年级理科专业学生设立的一项学业支持计划。结果表明，PEERS项目的学生在大多数“把关”化学和数学课程中平均成绩更高，累积平均绩点更高，完成的科学课程更多，并且在理科专业的留校率显著高于对照组。凭借其专注于学术、咨询、营造支持性社区以及提供科研机会的整体方法，PEERS项目为那些有意并致力于提高代表性不足的理科专业学生留校率和缩小成绩差距的大学树立了一个优秀典范。
