This dissertation consists of three essays focused on policies that hold the potential to reduce gender and socioeconomic gaps in the developing world. The first two chapters focus on higher education while the last chapter focuses on STEM gender gaps during primary school. Chapter 1 looks at the impacts of new transportation infrastructure on…

Colleges and universities are being held more and more accountable for outcomes. Therefore, it is important that a college knows how its curriculum truly prepares individual students for their desired field of employment. This study was completed to determine the extent to which graduates of a physical education and exercise science program…

Since its inception in 1992, the University of the North's, Science Foundation Year (UNIFY) Programme has provided access to higher education to over 1500 previously disadvantaged students. However, there has always been doubt about whether the concept of a foundation programme is a worthwhile endeavour. To date, government has not yet fully…

Evaluates the results of an experiment with comprehensive project-organized and problem-based engineering education at Aalborg University that has lasted for 20 years. Several independent evaluations show that the graduates are more readily adaptable, with strong qualities in the field of problem-solving, cooperation, communication, and…

The Preprofessional Program's objectives for increasing minority student participation in the health sciences are outlined in this report. Steps taken by the program to meet each of the objectives are briefly described. Data collected during the last year of the program are presented for such areas as class composition, students' career interests,…

Identifies assumptions and points out specific design questions which can help guide the development of successful programs to assist nontraditional students. Lists five myths identified as interfering with program development. Also reviews some factors to be considered in evaluating an assistance program and provides a concluding analysis. (JM)

This report presents the findings of an evaluative study of the current status of engineering education for minority students at the collegiate and pre-collegiate levels in the United States. It is based on a survey of 50 existing programs and a review of the professional and research literature in this field. The major findings of the analysis…

The Dayton Science Project emerged in 1990 through the Dayton (Ohio) Public Schools superintendent's efforts to redesign the district's K-12 science curriculum via a university-school partnership. Participants learned that partners need each other, shared understanding is crucial, decisions foster conflict, partner meeting should occur in neutral…

This three-part yearbook begins with a characterization of science education practices based on extensive national studies conducted during the period 1977 to 1983 and a discussion of several efforts which address the current crisis in science education. The second part consists of essays focusing on practical, program, and on political and policy…

In 1969 Meharry Medical College established a summer program, the Biomedical Science program, for undergraduate minority students interested in careers in medicine or dentistry. Two follow-up surveys examining the program's impact study medical and dental school admissions among participants and student opinion regarding the program's influence.…

The U.S. Department of Education's Strategic Plan for 2002-2007 (U.S. Department of Education 2002) established an objective to "reduce the gaps in college access and completion among student populations differing by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and disability while increasing the educational attainment of all." Upward Bound, which made…

This report summarizes the findings of an exploratory study of the short-term impact of the National Science Foundation's Young Scholars Program (YSP). The program awards grants on a competitive basis to projects located at higher education or advanced research facilities that can provide students with an intellectually stimulating research…

This publication is a comprehensive report on the George Engelmann Mathematics and Science Institute's Scholar Research Program (SRP) and its activities in 1993. The SRP provides high school students who have successfully completed an earlier Engelmann program the opportunity to experience and practice the active components of the scientific…

This report provides comments and opinions from National Science Foundation (NSF) officials on proposed agency budget cuts which could affect three NSF Directorates: Science and Engineering; Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences; and Scientific, Technological, and International Affairs. Specific topics discussed focus on personnel levels,…

This publication is a comprehensive report on the George Engelmann Mathematics and Science Institute's Science Scholar program (SSP) and its activities in 1993. The SSP provides high achieving high school students an introductory, 4-week summer curriculum designed to demonstrate the connecting thread running through all scientific thought. The 52…