Gender, Politics, and the Academy: Women and STEM in Universities
Abstract
In 2013, Georgia consolidated two institutions into the new Kennesaw State University: Southern Polytechnic State University and KSU. As a polytechnic, SPSU historically had significant gender disparity. For example, of the more than 6,700 students at SPSU in 2014, men outnumbered women almost 4 to 1.
On the other hand, KSU had a student population in 2014 of over 25,700 in areas such as nursing, business, arts, and humanities. The student body was 58 percent women and 42 percent men.
The New U, as it is known today, is the third largest in the state and has over 33,000 students, of which more than 50 percent are women. Interestingly, STEM majors are primarily located at the smaller, former SPSU campus, which has a student women-to-men ratio 1 to 6, a decline from 2014. Thus, even though university enrollment has never been higher, women students are underrepresented in STEM majors. This study examines trends in gender and STEM programs during university consolidation.
Initial findings since 2015 imply that women students admitted to STEM programs are flourishing academically in spite of a sense of lack of gender privilege stemming from general underrepresentation on campus and in the STEM areas in particular. This presentation discusses the insufficiency of recruiting efforts and suggests the need for 1) initiatives that encourage women to apply for and engage in STEM majors and 2) increasing campus resources.
Presentation Description
Initial findings since 2015 imply that women students admitted to STEM programs are flourishing academically in spite of a sense of lack of gender privilege stemming from general underrepresentation on campus and in the STEM areas in particular. This presentation discusses the insufficiency of recruiting efforts and suggests the need for 1) initiatives that encourage women to apply for and engage in STEM majors and 2) increasing campus resources.
Location
Room B
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Hollliday, Sarah, "Gender, Politics, and the Academy: Women and STEM in Universities" (2018). Curriculum Studies Summer Collaborative. 15.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cssc/2018/2018/15
Gender, Politics, and the Academy: Women and STEM in Universities
Room B
In 2013, Georgia consolidated two institutions into the new Kennesaw State University: Southern Polytechnic State University and KSU. As a polytechnic, SPSU historically had significant gender disparity. For example, of the more than 6,700 students at SPSU in 2014, men outnumbered women almost 4 to 1.
On the other hand, KSU had a student population in 2014 of over 25,700 in areas such as nursing, business, arts, and humanities. The student body was 58 percent women and 42 percent men.
The New U, as it is known today, is the third largest in the state and has over 33,000 students, of which more than 50 percent are women. Interestingly, STEM majors are primarily located at the smaller, former SPSU campus, which has a student women-to-men ratio 1 to 6, a decline from 2014. Thus, even though university enrollment has never been higher, women students are underrepresented in STEM majors. This study examines trends in gender and STEM programs during university consolidation.
Initial findings since 2015 imply that women students admitted to STEM programs are flourishing academically in spite of a sense of lack of gender privilege stemming from general underrepresentation on campus and in the STEM areas in particular. This presentation discusses the insufficiency of recruiting efforts and suggests the need for 1) initiatives that encourage women to apply for and engage in STEM majors and 2) increasing campus resources.
