SCIENCE BOUND: A Historical Analysis of ISU’s Effort to Increase Minority Students’ Participation in STEM
- Connie Hargrave (Iowa State University)
Abstract
Begun in 1989 as a pilot project with 6 middle school students, Science Bound (SB) is Iowa State University’s primary initiative to create a pipeline of ethnically diverse Iowa students to study in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). By partnering with school districts and public and private corporations, ISU through SCIENCE BOUND has been effective in building students’ knowledge of, interest in, and preparation to study technical disciplines at the college level. More than 90 percent of SB graduates (those who complete the 5-year high school program) go on to a four-year college or university, and more than 60 percent pursue majors in STEM areas. Now in its 20th year (with 300 middle and high school students), a historical analysis of the impetus that started the program and the factors that caused the program to continue far beyond its initial funding will be presented. This session will consist of an analysis of the political, demographic, and social factors that have resulted in the institutionalization of Science Bound.