Building Diverse STEM Enrollment in Dual Enrollment and Early College Programming

Program Abstract: This session will discuss how early college and dual enrollment programs can deliver more extensive and rich STEM coursework todiverse high school students. Dual enrollment and early college programs have been proven to improve high school and college achievement, but have largely focused on general education transfer classes, with only a few programs having a more explicit STEM focus. Drawing from institutional data on STEM course taking and on the demographic composition of these classes, we will discuss both the findings of low STEM coursetaking rates and the need for greater diversity in STEM classes offered by dual enrollment and early college programs. The session will examine potential personal and structural reasons for this pattern of STEM avoidance by students, and propose several solutions that engage with school “gatekeepers” to build a more robust STEM student/career pipeline.