Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Youth STEM outreach: A report from the MSU Science Math Resource Center – 2022
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View a short presentation about this proect on YouTube.
Overview and methodology
The framework presented here highlights exemplary practices for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach programs for youth in university programs hosted in an informal/out-of-school-time setting. Outlined in the framework are four primary domains:
(b) recruitment and registration
(c) outreach program personnel, and
For each topic within these domains, guiding questions and exemplary practices for DEI are presented. This framework is designed to allow those who host university STEM outreach programs for youth to evaluate and modify their practices to improve DEI.
Section 2 calls specific attention to challenges faced by youth who are typically under-served or under-represented in STEM along with suggestions from community educators.
The framework was developed through the analysis of both primary and secondary sources, including:
- Interviews with professionals from the MSU Office of Diversity & Inclusion and College of Education, Health and Human Development; Montana GEAR UP; and Montana Office of Public Instruction
- Interviews with K-12 educators and students
- Survey of Montana Science Olympiad coaches
- Community of practice meeting with MSU STEM outreach professionals and advocates
- Numerous MSU and national resources (see Appendices A and B) including Montana State University’s Diversity and Inclusion Framework and the College of Education, Health & Human Development’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan
This effort was also supported by SMRC’s national partners, including Science Olympiad; National Science Foundation EPSCoR; NASA SciAct, NASA Astrobiology Institute and GLOBE; and the National Girls Collaborative Project as well as the Science Math Resource Center advisory board.
Funding was provided by the Dean’s Office of the College of Education, Health & Human Development.
Please note that our findings and recommendations are not exhaustive and may change over time as new knowledge is acquired.
For comments or questions on this publication, please contact the Science Math Resource Center at Montana State University at smrc@montana.edu
See also
Appendix A: MSU Statement of Diversity
Appendix B: References and resources
Checklist for self-assessment
We recommend using the following questions as a guide to "self-audit" your own youth STEM outreach programs. Take notes on areas that could be improved. Use the exemplary practices column for ideas that could help.
Organizational Fundamentals
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Guiding Questions |
Exemplary Practices |
Organization/Staff |
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Media/Promotions |
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Recruitment Protocols
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Guiding Questions |
Exemplary Practices |
Population |
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Practices |
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Registration and other forms
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Guiding Questions |
Exemplary Practices |
Inclusivity |
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Accommodations |
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Outreach program personnel
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Guiding Questions |
Exemplary Practices |
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Program Staff |
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Instructors, Guest Speakers, Presenters, Volunteers |
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Outreach program design
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Guiding Questions |
Exemplary Practices |
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Physical Location |
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Time/Duration |
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Instructional Format |
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Content |
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Accommodations |
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Atmosphere |
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Resources |
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Program debrief |
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Including more Under-served/Under-represented students in youth STEM outreach
Montana has the highest percentage of rural schools in the U.S. (74.0%) and the highest percentage of rural school districts (95.3%). Montana is also home to seven reservations and 12 tribal nations. Native Americans are Montana’s largest minority group with approximately 7% of Montana citizens identifying as Native American (Approximately 14% of school-age students are Native American). 5.2% of Montanans do not speak English, and about 10% of households experience food insecurity. These percentages are not always reflected in participation rates for MSU youth STEM outreach programs.
To further explore some of the unique challenges to including more under-served/under-represented (US/UR) students in MSU youth STEM outreach, we surveyed Science Olympiad coaches from across the state including many rural schools; interviewed educators representing four tribal areas of Montana: Blackfeet, Crow, Rocky Boy, and Fort Peck; and consulted with the Office of Public Instruction’s Indian Education for All and the Montana GEAR UP office based at Montana State University.
Because our goal is to overcome barriers—some current, some historical—this report focuses on challenges that we can study and address in order to reach out to more US/UR students. We recognize that this type of approach by necessity highlights deficits, when in fact, a different type of report could take an asset-based approach and highlight the many unique strengths, talents, and worldviews that these students can contribute to a program.
We acknowledge that many populations—particularly Native Americans—have been historically and systemically excluded from STEM and other academic extra-curricular activities—a barrier that requires much more effort to overcome.
Interviewees noted the following factors as barriers to participation in university-hosted youth STEM outreach programs:
Potential Community-Level Barriers:
- Prevalence of low-income homes
- Students in transience (e.g., a child lives with one family member part-time and another part-time; they may be located in different school districts)
- Trauma, which can take many forms, including suicide; domestic or community violence; abuse; illness/injury; and many other stressors.
- Drug use (by student or guardian/family member)
- Family members who do not prioritize academics
- Low level of parent engagement
Potential School-Level Barriers:
- Challenges in filling teaching positions
- Limited offerings of STEM courses and extracurricular STEM activities (e.g., computer science club, Science Olympiad team, etc.)
- Lack of funding for transportation, lodging, and STEM materials
- Long travel to STEM outreach opportunities
Potential Teacher-Level Barriers:
- High teacher turnover
- Teachers who live outside the community and are less involved in local events and groups
- Lack of support for extracurricular STEM coaches
Potential Student-Level Barriers
- Low achievement scores
- Limited knowledge of the research process or exposure to STEM careers
- Lack of self-esteem and confidence
- Lack of celebration for academic achievements
- Aversion to head-to-head competitive activities
Suggested solutions
Our interviewees recommend the following potential solutions that could increase support for and inclusion of more US/UR students in MSU youth STEM outreach programs:
- Communicate frequently and consistently with community leaders, school administrators, teachers/coaches, and students in order to identify barriers and discuss potential solutions
- Consider supporting local “ambassadors”
- Promote and facilitate family engagement
- Offer funding for transportation, lodging, materials, and teacher/coach stipends
- Provide professional development for STEM teachers
- Recruit students regardless of past academic achievement; consider reaching out to students who will not automatically consider college
- Recruit students in pairs, teams, or groups rather than a single individual
- Foster an environment that promotes self-esteem and confidence
- Provide opportunities for students to engage in research practices used by STEM professionals—connect activities to potential future careers
- Celebrate the achievements of US/UR students and STEM professionals
- Take away the fear of the unknown; create a video to show what the university event or program will be like; encourage past participants to share their experiences and recruit others from their communities
- Enlist support from MSU groups such as EMPower, TRiO, Office of International Programs, Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Education, Center for Research on Rural Education, the Department of Native American Studies, etc.
Appendix A – MSU Statement on Diversity
Montana State University is committed to creating a culture of intellectual and personal growth. Because learning is enhanced when topics are examined from diverse perspectives and because individuals possess unique outlooks which reflect the world around us, Montana State University is dedicated to creating an inclusive community that embraces a rich mix in the composition of its student body, staff and faculty. The distinction in viewpoints that comes from differences in race, gender, age, language, socioeconomic status, religion, political affiliation and geographical background are appreciated and valued at MSU as important aspects of the campus community at every level and in every sector of the campus.
To this end, MSU welcomes international students and faculty and enthusiastically seeks engagement with peers from around the globe to expand our depth of understanding and share in the discovery of knowledge. MSU has an especially strong commitment to Native Peoples and actively engages in the development of social and educational initiatives to preserve the cultural integrity of all American Indian students, faculty and staff. MSU strives to advance the ideals of human worth and dignity for all by facilitating open discussion, supporting rational resolution of conflict and encouraging on-going examination of values.
www.montana.edu/president/communications/diversity.html
Appendix B – References
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American Dental Education Association – Checklist to Promote DEI
- Harvard University Office of Regulary Affairs and Research Compliance - download the Inclusive Demographic Data Collection [note that this external resource is only available in PDF format]
- National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Education Foundation - STEM Equity Program Evaluation Rubric
- National Educational Association of Disabled Students – Making Extracurricular Activities Inclusive.
- National Girls Collaborative Project – Checklist for Accessible Meetings and Conferences. (Available as a document by request: smrc@montana.edu)
- New York University Education Justice Research and Organizing Collaborative – Culturally
Responsive Curriculum Scorecards.
- Partnerships in Education and Resilience – Dimensions of Success Observation Tool
- SciGirls Strategies: How to Engage Girls in STEM
- University of Washington Center for Evaluation and Research in STEM Equity
Acknowledgments and Authors
The Science Math Resource Center is a STEM outreach center located in the Department of Education at Montana State University. The Center provides professional development to STEM educators in formal and out-of-school settings and STEM programming opportunities for youth of all ages. SMRC is home to the Montana Science Olympiad and works with organizations across the state to advance STEM access and equity.
Authors: Monte Meyerink, Suzi Taylor, Fenqjen Luo, MSU Science Math Resource Center
Special thanks to Dean Alison Harmon, Senior Assistant Dean Kayte Kaminski,and the Diversity-Equity-Inclusion initiatives of the MSU College of Education, Health and Human Development
Acknowledgment: This report is not comprehensive and these suggestions are meant to guide and encourage further conversations about which students are or are not participating in MSU’s youth STEM outreach programs—and why. Solutions and practices change over time and will never be one-size-fits-all. We encourage continuous dialogue, exploration, and training for staff. For information about this project, please contact the MSU Science Math Resource Center. smrc@montana.edu