Finding More STEM Students

[FarCenter]

That the country needs more science, technology, engineering, and math graduates is a common refrain, but there has been little consensus about how to achieve this goal, and recent announcements from two public universities showcase very different strategies.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy announced Thursday a plan to dedicate $1.5 billion to growing the science, technology, engineering, and math programs at the University of Connecticut. The money will be used to hire more faculty members, enroll more students, build new STEM facilities and dorms, and create new doctoral fellowships and a STEM honors program.

The proposal, called Next Generation Connecticut, spans UConn’s three campuses. If the program passes the state legislature, it would increase the number of engineering undergraduates enrolled by 70 percent and the number of STEM graduates by 47 percent. UConn currently enrolls 7,701 undergraduates and 1,973 graduate students in STEM fields. It would also fund the hiring of 259 new faculty members, 200 of whom would be in the STEM fields.


Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/02/01/connecticut-and-texas-aim-grow-stem-enrollment-take-different-approaches

[NYC_SKP]

1. They need to start WAAAYYY earlier. Pre-school, in fact.

Also, you might already know that many are now calling it "STEAM", to include Art in the mix.

Interesting article I read this morning mentions the importance of early arts, crafts, music education:

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb13/vol70/num05/The-Art-and-Craft-of-Science.aspx

[FarCenter]

2. I would focus on crafts and design, rather than arts and music generally

Students should do more work in wood, plastic, metal, textiles, etc. to design and build stuff. This should include measurement, drawing, use of tools, application of adhesives and finishes. Cooking would be good as well, since it involves the use of heat and cold, as well as a number of basic chemical reactions and an understanding of measurements.