Fostering Persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Creating an Equitable Environment That Addresses the Needs of Undergraduate Students

Student retention is a critical issue for universities, and nearly half of the students who start degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) do not complete them. The current study tracks the progress of STEM students taking part in an entry-to-graduation program designed to build community, provide academic and social support, and promote engagement in academically purposeful activities. Although it had no effect on the number of students who changed their major, the program more than doubled the number of students who graduated in their original major. Black or Hispanic students taking part in the program also graduated at twice the rate of comparator students, largely attributable to the success of women in these groups. The results provide needed real-world insights into how to create an equitable environment that promotes the persistence and graduation of students, including those from groups historically underrepresented in STEM.

A Psychosociocultural View of Hispanic First-Generation College Students’ Graduation Rates

First-generation college students (FGCS), nearly 50% of which identify as Hispanic, are an underserved population. The psychosociocultural theoretical framework posits that individual, environmental, and cultural factors contribute to the academic success of Hispanic students. This study examined the relationship between these factors (i.e., demographics, academic self-efficacy, meeting with professors, and attending cultural programming) to 6-year bachelor’s degree attainment and time to bachelor’s degree attainment among Hispanic students at a Hispanic Serving Institution ( n = 358). Being better prepared academically, being female, and having greater academic self-efficacy were positively related to bachelor’s degree attainment; FGCS status was negatively related. Among students who graduated ( n = 208), entering college being better prepared academically, and having greater academic self-efficacy were related to quicker bachelor’s degree attainment; FGCS status was not significantly related. Practitioners may pay more attention to Hispanic students’ academic self-efficacy and the success of Hispanic male students.

Observing the Demographic Factors of Peer-Nominated Leaders in Urban Middle Schools

This study investigated the relationship between adolescent students' gender and racial/ethnic backgrounds and their likelihood of being identified by their peers as having leadership qualities. A survey designed to gauge peer perceptions of leadership qualities was administered to 1003 middle school students from three diverse public middle schools in a Northeastern US city. The survey asked students to nominate as many students as possible who possess specific leadership characteristics. Female students consistently received more nominations across all survey items at two schools. This pattern was observed for five out of the ten survey items at the third school. At a school with a Hispanic majority, Hispanic students received more nominations for most survey items than Asian, Black, and White students. Additionally, at a school with a Black majority, Asian students received more nominations for all survey items compared to Black and Hispanic students and for nine survey items compared to White students. The results indicate that students' gender and schools' racial/ethnic composition may have some influence on peer perceptions of leadership. Furthermore, significant differences in how youths perceive leadership among peers of different backgrounds may be indicative of bias. Educators and administrators can use this information to make sure that students from marginalized backgrounds have opportunities to grow as leaders.

A Scalable Empathic-Mindset Intervention Reduces Group Disparities in School Suspensions

Suspensions remove students from the learning environment at high rates throughout the United States. Policy and theory highlight social groups that face disproportionately high suspension rates—racial-minoritized students, students with a prior suspension, and students with disabilities. We used an active placebo-controlled, longitudinal field-experiment (Nteachers=66, Nstudents=5,822) to test a scalable “empathic-mindset” intervention, a 70-minute online exercise to refocus middle-school teachers on understanding and valuing the perspectives of students and on sustaining positive relationships even when students misbehave. In pre-registered analyses, this exercise reduced suspension rates especially for Black and Hispanic students, cutting the racial disparity over the school year by 45%. Significant reductions were also observed for other groups of concern. Moreover, reductions persisted through the next year when students interacted with new teachers, suggesting that empathic treatment with even one teacher in a critical period can improve students’ trajectories.

Positive Relationships with Adults and Resilience to Suicide Attempt among New Mexico Hispanic Adolescents

Suicide is a leading cause of adolescent death and has increased in recent years. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect that relationships with adults at home and in the community had on the probability of suicide attempts of Hispanic teenagers in New Mexico. Data from the 2019 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey were analyzed to identify the ways in which relationships with adults influenced suicide attempts among Hispanic adolescent students. The examined factors included: relationships with adults in the home and in the community and with same-age friends, and participation in hobbies or organizations outside of school. The resiliency factors were similar for male and female Hispanic students. As positive relationships with adults at home or in the community increased, the probability of suicide attempts decreased by 37–54%. Positive relationships with same-age friends were also associated with reduced suicide attempts. Community organization involvement and hobbies affected males and females differently. Adults at home and in the community can decrease the risk of suicide for Hispanic teenagers through supportive relationships. Hybrid programs focusing on adolescent health, positive communication, and academic support, which integrate adults from home and community environments, show promise in reducing suicidal thoughts and other risk behaviors.

Teaching the adverbial participle to Hispanic students on the lessons of Russian as a foreign language

Цель статьи – сопоставить русское деепричастие c испанским герундием и описать специфику презентации материала по теме «Деепричастие» испаноговорящим студентам. Методология работы основана на анализе и обобщении научно-педагогических трудов отечественных и зарубежных ученых в области преподавания грамматики. Несмотря на определенные сходства русского деепричастия с испанским герундием, нельзя отождествлять исследуемые грамматические формы. Автором также обосновывается целесообразность применения сопоставительного метода в преподавании, поскольку сравнение деепричастия с герундием на занятиях позволяет испаноязычным учащимся быстрее усвоить материал, избежать ошибок в употреблении деепричастия и, следовательно, достичь наилучших результатов в области овладения русской грамматикой. The purpose of the article is to reveal the features of similarity and difference between the adverbial participle and the Spanish gerund and describe the specifics of the presentation of the material on the topic «The adverbial participle» for the Hispanic audience. The methodology of work is based on the analysis and generalization of scientific and pedagogical papers of domestic and foreign scientists in the field of teaching grammar. When writing the article, the author also used textbooks on the Russian language for foreign students. The analysis of the scientific literature made it possible to reveal certain similarities between the adverbial participle and the Spanish gerund. But the article reveals the fact that it is nevertheless impossible to identify the investigated grammatical forms. The author justifies the advisability of applying a comparative method in teaching. Comparison of Russian adverbial participle with Spanish gerund during classes allows Hispanic students more quickly learn the material, avoid mistakes in the use of adverbial participles and, consequently to achieve the best results in the field of mastering Russian grammar.