What strategies can STEM professional societies use to recruit and retain students attending Minority-Serving Institutions? STEM is often seen as a meritocratic environment, but the reality is much more complicated. For many students underrepresented in STEM, feelings of exclusion and isolation are not uncommon. Women and other minoritized individuals often turn to professional societies to find mentorship, networking opportunities, and community. Professional societies help to challenge the systemic inequities that these students experience in STEM.
Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) educate many STEM students from diverse backgrounds. Unfortunately, many professional societies struggle to engage with MSI students. This study seeks to identify effective strategies for recruiting and retaining MSI students in Society programs, including how to tailor and implement recruitment strategies that align with their unique experiences.
Using a qualitative approach, SWE researchers conducted virtual focus group and one-on-one interviews of MSI students and SWE staff and volunteers tasked with collegiate member recruitment in Fall 2024. Through these interviews, researchers captured various challenges and opportunities related to recruiting and supporting students from MSIs.
Read the research report to learn about the best practices associated with the following recommendations/lessons learned:
- Retention depends on continual, personalized engagement and creating an inclusive environment.
- Recruitment strategies must adapt to shifting contacts and institutional dynamics.
- Building long-term relationships and trust requires sustained effort and patience.
This research study was supported with a grant from the ARDC.
