79.1
Narrowing The Pipeline? Assessing Female Participation in STEM Fields

Monday, July 14, 2014: 3:30 PM
Room: 315
Oral Presentation
Nicole FARRIS , Behavioral Sciences, University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL
Heather MCDONALD , University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL
The underrepresentation of female Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) faculty members at teaching institutions leaves few role models for young female students, particularly racial/ethnic minorities, interested in pursuing careers in STEM academic fields. A shortage in the number of professional women in STEM narrows the pipeline for future progress in every STEM discipline. The underrepresentation of women STEM faculty members everywhere, but most notably at  small, primarily teaching institutions parallels the national statistics, which indicate numbers disproportionate to student and community demographics at institutions of higher education.

We intend to: examine and evaluate the specific needs and practices regarding advancement of women in STEM fields at a small, southern, rural, primarily teaching university and similar regional teaching institutions, and formulate specific sustainable strategies and goals toward increasing representation of women for the success of female scientists, our institution, and the future of scientific innovation.

A variety of measurable quantitative data and qualitative information will be systematically gathered from female STEM faculty and from a comparison group of male STEM faculty to determine causal factors influencing the underrepresentation of women in STEM. All baseline data gathered on female STEM faculty will be compared to results obtained from male STEM faculty. The data will be analyzed in order to assess needs and methods for implementing policies and conditions favorable for achieving positive change in the number of and professional advancement of STEM female faculty at this institution and to contribute to the existing body of knowledge regarding the underrepresentation of women STEM faculty.