The 2017 NSF INCLUDES “Conference to Advance the Collective Impact of Retention and Continuation Strategies for Hispanics and Other Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Fields” was held at the Kellogg Conference Center on the Gallaudet University campus in Washington, D.C., on March 6-8th, 2017. The conference brought together 74 researchers, higher education administrators, industry representatives, members of professional societies, and other community members from regions across the United States. Participants shared their experiences and expertise in broadening participation in STEM fields and in identifying strategies to improve outcomes for Hispanics, women, and other underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
Panels focused on lessons learned about collective impact, the K-12 pipeline to college and the importance of community, Latino student success in two-year institutions, increasing Latino retention in undergraduate STEM programs, recruitment of highly competitive Latinos and other underrepresented minorities into graduate schools and strategies for successful completion of graduate studies, and industry partnerships to identify a diverse workforce. Panel and keynote presentations focused on evidence-based knowledge, leveraging findings from disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields and from differing types of institutions and educational levels to determine whether strategies identified can yield large-scale progress towards INCLUDES goals. In addition, small breakout sessions offered opportunities for attendees to share their ideas on (1) lessons learned from collective impact projects; (2) obstacles confronting students at various points and in different sectors of the education, career, and industry STEM pathways; and (3) best practices for overcoming barriers and ensuring that the strategies identified would be successful in different contexts.
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Diversity and Inclusion Professional Societies Case Study
Building a diverse workforce is a challenge that is mutually experienced across sectors, yet each sector also has successes to share in efforts towards a more diverse and inclusive workforce. This interactive session will highlight case studies across sectors including industry, municipal, academia and professional societies (WEF) and the impacts of various programs on their local communities and provide insights on moving the industry's diversity and inclusion forward as a whole. Panelists will present case studies and experiences highlighting challenges and opportunities to strengthen the pipeline of leaders in the water industry and recruitment and retention strategies to attract a diverse workforce. Panelists will each give a brief presentation, followed by an interactive panel discussion facilitated by the moderator. Participants across sectors, can glean from the various perspectives and experiences of utility leaders, academic professors, professional societies, and students.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1735320
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10251864
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Water Environment Federation Technical Conference Proceedings
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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