Degree of success in reaching underrepresented minority students with an active learning curriculum for biochemistry

Historically, NSF has been concerned about inclusion of underrepresented minority students in STEM. Since 2009, an NSF-funded project that intends to disseminate and test an active learning approach to science teaching has been working with a student population at 14 different institutions across the United States. Ideally, this project has met NSF’s goals in reaching minority students. For that reason, it is important to determine how the percentage of minority students participating in this project compares to the overall national averages of STEM graduates. Demographic data from a paper-and-pencil survey was collected from 8 participating institutions from 2009-2011. CHI-square analyses can support conclusions as to whether or not the project is reaching NSF’s definition of underrepresented minority students in two categories: Sex and Race/Ethnicity. This study reports on the extent to which this project falls short of the ideal. In the absence of specific strategies, we are unlikely to make progress towards the inclusion of minority students in STEM initiatives.