Changing the Shape of the River: (Re)privileging STEM Research for Latinx Community College Student

ABSTRACT

Undergraduate research experiences can have a positive impact on student retention and success in STEM, but are not widely available to community college students. Yet, the role of community colleges in producing STEM graduates, especially Latinx students, is overlooked and likely underestimated. A program designed to attract and retain Latinx STEM majors needs to do more than just provide opportunity and access. This study examines a successful community college undergraduate research experience designed with Latinx students in mind. We describe the program, provide evidence to document its efficacy, and identify essential components that draw, retain, and propel Latinx community college students in STEM.

KEYWORDS:

• Latinx
• STEM
• undergraduate research
• community college
• curriculum
• Latino

Disclosure statement

Data and findings in this study draw from a program evaluation funded by a U.S. Department of Education, Title V Hispanic Serving Institutions Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and Articulation Programs grant. The first author was the grant-funded outside evaluator.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

¹ The Shape of the River comes from the title of Bowen & Bok’s (2016) seminal work on consequences of considering race in college admissions.