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Need: The overall purpose of this work is to provide pathways for historically excluded students, more specifically, Latina students, to reach the goal of obtaining a degree in engineering. In creating pathways, the project aims to address the obstacles that students are facing while attempting to complete a degree in engineering. Holyoke Community College provides the foundation of an associates degree in engineering that will then be used as the stepping stone from a two-year institute to a four-year institute. The project also aims to address the lack of diversity within the field of engineering and the steps institutions can take to increase diversity in engineering. The research questions: Why aren’t more historically excluded students participating in the field of engineering? What are the issues that students face when pursuing a degree in engineering? What are ways to support students on their journey from a two year institution to transferring to a four year institution in the engineering field? What can institutions do to increase the retention and graduation rates for historically excluded students within the engineering field?Outcomes implement and adapt evidence based practices in STEM education within an engineering pathway that extends from high school through an associates degree and into a four year engineering program for students who are historically excluded in engineering, especially Latinx and female students. Through this track, the team will conduct research and create new knowledge on engaging historically excluded students in engineering, adapting the best practices, in diversifying and increasing the participation of Latinx and female students in engineering and improving our understanding of how to build institutional capacity at Hispanic Serving Institutions. Impacts:Broader implications of this work will directly impact the ways in which historically excluded students access the engineering field. In providing extensive support for students while attending HCC for their associates degree, the project is building a foundation for the students to be successful in a community college setting and transferring to a four year institution. The support offered will help shape the student’s understanding of the world around them, what it means to be a historically excluded student, how to access academia, and how to balance their personal and professional lives. In doing this work, we strive to make the pathway from an associates to bachelor’s degree engineering easier, thus, creating more opportunities for historically underrepresented students to achieve their academic goals. By completing the program, the project hopes that students will feel empowered to pursue careers in engineering leading to the increase of Latinx representation within the field.
