Understanding Challenges in the STEM Pipeline March 2015 Photo: Monkey Business via Fotolia
Outline for the presentation Using pipeline evidence to inform intervention selection and development Evidence on the STEM pipeline College readiness Persistence Major choice Success in coursework Degree completion Challenges for minority and female students 2
The STEM pipeline has many areas for leakage FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE College readiness Persistence Choice of STEM major Success in coursework Transfer/STEM AAS or Certificate STEM Baccalaureate Degree STEM Workforce TWO-YEAR COLLEGE 3
Pipeline data can be used in several ways to intervene in support of STEM development Choosing the intervention What s the problem you need to address? Refining the intervention What population most needs the intervention? When should the intervention take place? Evaluating the intervention What intermediate outcomes might we examine to determine whether long-term goals will be met? 4
This presentation uses data from range of sources and THECB analysis to describe leakage from the pipeline We use data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. We use state definitions for college readiness and other measures. We use state averages as a benchmark. We thank the THECB for assistance with analysis of the STEM pipeline. 5
Outline for the presentation Using pipeline evidence to inform intervention selection and development Evidence on the STEM pipeline College readiness 6
College readiness is important to STEM degree completion for several reasons Students who are college ready are more likely to persist and nearly twice as likely to graduate with a degree or certificate within six years. In addition, college-ready students are more likely to choose a STEM major because: They are more likely to be exposed to engaging STEM material. They are more likely to be successful in college-level STEM coursework. College Readiness 7
Percent of Students College Ready at Entry There is more variation across two-year institutions in levels of math college readiness 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 69% 49% 55% Math 67% 58% 78% 78% 79% Reading 78% Lee College Houston Community College Lonestar College 73% San Jacinto College Two-year public average College Readiness 8
Percent of Students College Ready at Entry Several universities have lower levels of college readiness among enrollees relative to the state 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 93% 78% 75% Math 99% 98% 96% 99% 99% 92% 94% 80% 73% Reading Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average College Readiness 9
Outline for the presentation Using pipeline evidence to inform intervention selection and development Evidence on the STEM pipeline College readiness Persistence 10
Persistence is important to degree completion for STEM and non-stem students While access to college has been improving, persistence have not. Persistence is a particular challenge for part-time enrollees and students who enter college not ready. A national study indicates that STEM students are equally likely to persist relative to non-stem students. Persistence rates for STEM majors are 80% at the bachelor s level and 64% at the associate s level. Persistence 11
Percent of Students Persisting into 2nd Year Persistence rates for some two-year institutions fall slightly below state averages 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 72% 64% 63% 65% 61% College-ready students 53% 55% 48% 45% 48% Not college-ready students Lee College Houston Community College Lonestar College San Jacinto College Two-year public average Persistence 12
Percent of Students Persisting into 2nd Year Persistence rates vary widely across universities, especially for students who are not college-ready 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 76% 88% 90% 76% College-ready students 83% 86% 85% 82% 68% 67% 59% 51% Not college-ready students Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average Persistence 13
Percent Persisting into 2nd Year After Transfer Persistence rates for transfer students look similar across institutions in the region 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 73% 76% 78% 75% 71% 74% 72% 75% 75% 75% Lee College DE Students Lonestar College Two-year public average Non-DE Students Houston Community College San Jacinto College Persistence 14
Percent Persisting into 2nd Year After Transfer Several universities have persistence rates for transfer students that fall below state averages 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 79% 80% 82% 84% 70% 72% 74% 76% 72% 75% 67% 68% DE Students Non-DE Students Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average Persistence 15
Outline for the presentation Using pipeline evidence to inform intervention selection and development Evidence on the STEM pipeline College readiness Persistence Major choice 16
Choosing and staying in a STEM major is important to STEM degree completion Research suggests that most students with a STEM major declare the major in the first year of college. Choice of STEM major is affected by pre-college experiences and early college experiences. In addition to dropping out, students may switch out of STEM majors. Nationally, 28% of bachelor s-level STEM majors and 33% of associate s-level STEM majors switch out by the third year. Choice of STEM Major 17
Percent of Declared Majors in STEM Fields There is wide variation in the percentages of students declaring STEM majors at two-year institutions 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 47% Lee College 12% Houston Community College 8% Lonestar College 23% 25% San Jacinto College Two-year public average Choice of STEM Major 18
Two-year institutions in the region differ from state averages in health and technology majors In two-year institutions in Texas, 80% of all STEM majors are in declared in health or technology fields Two-year institutions in the Houston region differ in several ways: All institutions have fewer students declaring majors in health relative to the state Houston Community College and Lonestar College have fewer students majoring in technology Lee College and San Jacinto College have more students majoring in technology fields relative to the state Choice of STEM Major 19
Percent of Declared Majors in STEM Fields There is wide variation in the percentages of students declaring STEM majors at universities 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 48% 35% 44% 35% 30% 20% 20% 15% 10% 0% Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average Choice of STEM Major 20
Two-year institutions in the region differ from state in certain fields Universities in the Houston region differ in several ways: Prairie View A&M has more majors in engineering and health Sam Houston State has fewer majors in health and biological sciences UH Downtown doesn t offer programs in several major STEM areas UH Main has more majors in technology and fewer majors in health UT Tyler has three times as many students declaring majors in health fields relative to the state average Choice of STEM Major 21
Outline for the presentation Using pipeline evidence to inform intervention selection and development Evidence on the STEM pipeline College readiness Persistence Major choice Success in coursework 22
Course progression and success are important to STEM degree completion Early success in STEM coursework is related to choice of a STEM major and persistence in a STEM major. Success in coursework after transfer is also important to STEM degree completion. Studies indicate that increased time to graduation and excess credit accumulation reduces the likelihood of receiving any degree. Success in Coursework 23
Percent Passing College-Level Math in 1 st Year There is wide variation in the percent of students passing a college-level math course early in college 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 44% 37% 31% 32% 26% College-ready in math Lee College Lonestar College Two-year public average 9% 8% 2% 2% 5% Not college-ready in math Houston Community College San Jacinto College Success in Coursework 24
Percent Passing College-Level Math Universities also vary widely in first-year passing rates for college-level math 100% 90% 84% 80% 70% 60% 50% 60% 51% 62% 68% 66% 55% 40% 30% 20% 10% 15% 6% 14% 17% 18% 0% College-ready in math Not college-ready in math Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average Success in Coursework 25
Total Credits at Graduation Relative to the state, most universities in the region graduate students with more excess credits 180 176 170 160 150 163 153 154 146 149 140 130 120 Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average Success in Coursework 26
Total Semesters at Graduation Time to graduation varies across universities in the region 16 15 14 14 13 12 11 11 10 12 11 10 10 9 8 7 6 Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average Success in Coursework 27
Outline for the presentation Using pipeline evidence to inform intervention selection and development Evidence on the STEM pipeline College readiness Persistence Major choice Success in coursework Degree completion 28
Graduation rates are important, and degrees should align with workforce needs Individuals, society, and regional economies all benefit from degrees But nationally and in Texas, graduation rates remain low. Regions could benefit from increased STEM-degree completion for two reasons: Some STEM industries and occupations might have unmet workforce needs. STEM occupations are typically high-quality jobs that benefit the economy. STEM degree or certificate should align with the needs of the region. Degree Completion 29
Graduation Rates Most two-year institutions meet or exceed state average graduation rates 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 20% 14% 11% In 3 Years 18% 15% 35% 34% 32% In 6 years 33% Lee College Houston Community College Lonestar College San Jacinto College Two-year public average 32% Degree Completion 30
Graduation Rates Several universities have lower than average graduation rates 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 63% 64% 57% 65% 50% 43% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 11% 28% 2% 22% In 4 Years 30% 31% 33% In 10 years Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average Degree Completion 31
Percent of Degrees in STEM Fields There is wide variation in the percent of degrees in earned in STEM fields at two-year institutions 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 61% 50% 44% 40% 30% 20% 21% 29% 34% 10% 0% Lee College Houston Community College Lonestar College San Jacinto College Two-year public average Degree Completion 32
Two-year institutions in the region differ from state averages in health and technology degrees At two-year institutions in Texas, 92 percent of STEM degrees are earned in health and technology fields Institutions in the region differ in several ways: Lee College and San Jacinto College exceed state averages for percent of degrees in technology fields Lonestar College and Houston Community College fall below state averages for degrees in technology fields Only Lonestar College exceeds state averages in health degrees, all other colleges have a small percentage of degrees in health Degree Completion 33
Percent of Degrees in STEM Fields Universities vary widely in the percent of degrees earned in STEM fields 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 45% 16% 6% 25% 41% 29% 0% Prairie View A&M Sam Houston State UH Downtown UH Main UT Tyler Four-year public average Degree Completion 34
Universities in the region differ from state averages in particular STEM degree fields The differences mirror those seen for STEM majors: Prairie View A&M has more degrees earned in engineering and health Sam Houston State has fewer majors in health and biological sciences UH Downtown has fewer degrees earned in most STEM areas UH Main has more degrees in technology and fewer majors in health UT Tyler has three times as many students earning degrees in health fields relative to the state average Degree Completion 35