Mellon 23 Workshop:

Broadening Access to STEM Fields



Kinds of problems to keep in mind throughout the workshop:

    • Problems that drive the creation of inclusive STEM programs

    • Underlying social and environmental roots

    • Problems associated with program implementation


Workshop Agenda

HeadleyHouse

Thursday, June 25, 2009 (Headley House, at right, 815 E. 2ndSt.)


8:00 am Continental breakfast, Headley House

9:00 Welcome, workshop goals and products, and schedule (Arjendu Pattanayak and John McDaris)

9:15 Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Socioeconomic Diversity in the Sciences: A National Context- Wendy Raymond (Williams College).

Wendy identifies a list of problems that programming seeks to solve, that are backed up by evidence and data.

10:00 Break

10:15 Case Study # 1 on Comprehensive Approaches:
Nearly Two Decades of Efforts in Science Education - Grinnell College, Jim Swartz

10:35 Discussion: Implications of Case #1 for building a comprehensive plan?

11:15 Case Study #2 on Comprehensive Approaches:
Haverford Comprehensive Case Study - Haverford College, Jeff Tecosky-Feldman

11:35 Discussion: Implications for Case #2 for building a comprehensive plan?

12:15 pm Buffet lunch

1:30 Varied Strategies for Change (Kate Queeney).

What kinds of strategies have had success, in what context, that are supported by data and evidence? Which ones do we want to work on more together? 1 page handout and 5 min per presenter.

Gretchen Edwalds-Gilbert (CMC/Scripps): Discussion on Introductory Combined Class
Fran Blase (Haverford): Introductory Chemistry Class
Deborah Gross (Carleton): Mentoring programs, Cohort programs
Joe Tanski (Vassar): Undergraduate Research Summer Institute
Eric Cheever (Swarthmore): Academic Support in the Physical Sciences: A Comprehensive Model
Kate Queeney (Smith): Sustainability of programs
Jacob Alexander (Barnard): Introductory Chemistry
Jessica Goldstein (Barnard): Supplemental Instruction for Intro Biology


2:30 Best practices discussions in affinity groups based upon strategies of interest.

Decide on affinity groups - join a group. Participants share experience and expertise, summarize best practices and consider how they can be used on the campuses of interest. Use the SERC workspace to create a "best practices document" that includes descriptions of:

  • the strategy
  • problems or contexts in which this strategy is useful, and how those problems can be diagnosed (what is the evidence of this problem?)
  • evidence for its effectiveness
  • essential elements for a successful implementation
  • common barriers, challenges and potential solutions
  • other issues?

Participants may also develop "action plans" for use when they go home. Take a break on your own ~3:00-3:30 pm.

4:15 Affinity group report out (Jim Swartz). Share your group workspace text.

5:15 Time to relax, exercise, chat, walk with new friends in the nearby Arb.

6:00 Wine (Jeff will make a toast)

6:30 Dinner at Headley House

8:00 Northfield JuneBug Festival of Music. Music downtown at the Tavern, Contented Cow, and Grundy's.

Friday, June 26, 2009 (Headley House)

8:00am Continental breakfast, Headley House

8:30 Framing the Task of Producing a Public Document(Wendy Raymond).
Our goal is to create a document addressing the question of "Why and how can a liberal arts college develop a comprehensive diversity plan in STEM?". The document will describe the importance of a comprehensive approach in a liberal arts college, strategies for creating a comprehensive approach, and placing the specific program strategies in this context. This will become a public document. In this first discussion we will:
  • revisit our goals and audience
  • determine the structure and key sections of the document
  • consider the format of the document (single essay, series of essays, website, etc...)
  • determine how we will complete a draft of the document during the remainder of the workshop
  • create working groups and get to work
9:00 Small group discussion of answer to question above. Task is to create a proposed outline or structure (in Word) for the public document.

10:00 Break

10:15 Round robin reporting/synthesis on document structure (Wendy Raymond).
Decide on collective outline and structure. Establish the small groups and membership for section writing.
11:15 Small writing groups start meeting (including lunch at 12:00 pm). Draft points surrounding common challenges and solutions in a writing session.

2:00 pm Where are we on producing the "comprehensive plan" document (Jim Swartz)?
  • Dealing with gaps, weak links, section links?
  • How do we cohere the document?
  • Do we need to adjust for our intended audience? Who do we want to pay attention to this document, and how are we going to get them to pay attention to it?
  • How do we filter data and text for public consumption?
  • Make a plan for how the final document gets created.
3:00 End