Dive Brief:
- A new report by the Council of Graduate Schools shows there were 5% more black, Latino, and native students completing STEM PhD programs in 2005 than in 1996.
- The study followed minority attainment in STEM programs across 21 universities from 1992 to 2012 and represents the most comprehensive study of its kind, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.
- Interviews with minority graduate students supported recommendations for increasing completion rates and reducing the time students spend finishing their degrees, including offering interventions throughout the degree program and actively creating an inclusive culture on campus.
Dive Insight:
Higher education completion rates for black, Latino, and native students lag behind their white peers, as well as their Asian American and foreign counterparts overall. In STEM fields, this has been seen as particularly striking and troubling. Many campuses have boosted outreach to underrepresented groups in recent years, including to women. Getting more students of color and women in STEM programs is one thing, but supporting them through their dissertation defense is another. It takes continued attention. The Council of Graduate School’s report adds important data to the conversation and should give interested universities a new foundation for diversity initiatives.