The Research Catalogue
New Findings and Insights on Institutional Practices and Academic Success

This is a digest of sources on issues addressed by the AAAS Capacity Center. It is updated periodically, som etimes with commentary. Web links, some accessible only to subscribers, are provided wherever possible, though we cannot assure their viability.

From American Youth Policy Forum e-bulletin 2/22/07

America's Perfect Storm: Three Forces Changing Our Nation's Future (ETS Policy Information Center) - 
This report contends that the convergence of three forces – inadequate literacy skills among large segments of our population, the continuing evolution of our economy and the nation's job structure, and an ongoing shift in the demographic profile of our country powered by the highest immigration rates in almost a century -- will have dire consequences for America. Our nation is at a crossroads and must determine whether to continue on a path that could turn the American dream into an American tragedy, or invest in new policies that will help reduce the impact of the storm and allow us to grow together. 
Visit: www.ets.org/Media/Education_Topics/pdf/AmericasPerfectStorm.pdf

From Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology Comments E-Alert 2/12/07

“Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Production Inched Upward in 2006” - 
The number of baccalaureate degrees awarded in engineering inched upward in 2006, with 76,103 degrees awarded, up from 76,003 in 2005, according to Engineering & Technology Degrees, 2006, a new report from the Engineering Workforce Commission (EWC).  Baccalaureate degree production increased each year from 1999 to 2004, and leveled off in 2005. 
Visit: www.cpst.org/hrdata/documents/pwm13s/C441E073.pdf

From Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology Comments E-Alert 2/5/07

“Underrepresented Minority Women among 2005 STEM Doctoral Degree Recipients” -
There were 29,751 recipients of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) doctoral degrees in 2005, according to data from the National Science Foundation. Recently reported trends at the undergraduate level show that women from underrepresented minority groups (URM) are enrolling in higher numbers at postsecondary institutions. URM women are more highly represented among STEM doctoral recipients than are women overall.
Visit: www.cpst.org/hrdata/documents/pwm13s/C441W062.pdf

“Temporary Residents among Minority STEM Doctoral Degree Recipients” -
A recent article by Massey, Mooney, Torres and Charles in the American Journal of Education reports on the need for colleges and universities to be attentive to the complex ways in which immigration status affects educational access and outcomes for African Americans in the United States.  While the Massey et al. study focuses on undergraduates, data available from the National Science Foundation show that we need to understand how citizenship plays a role in doctoral degree awards.
Visit: www.cpst.org/hrdata/documents/pwm13s/C441W063.pdf

From Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

2007 State New Economy Index -
The New Economy continues to transform the U.S. and state economies.  The changing economic landscape requires state economies to be innovative, globally-linked, entrepreneurial and dynamic, with an educated workforce and all sectors embracing the use of information technology.  In a new report, ITIF employs 26 indicators to rank each state on the extent to which their economies are structured and operate to effectively compete regionally as well as globally.  For 2007 the five top states are, in order of rank, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, and California.  With these measures as a frame of reference, the report then outlines the next generation of innovative state-level public policies needed to meet the challenges of the New Economy and boost incomes of all Americans.
Visit: http://www.itif.org/index.php?id=30

Digital Prosperity: Understanding the Economic Benefits of the Information Technology Revolution - 
The report examines the impact of IT in five key areas: 1) productivity; 2) employment; 3) more efficient markets; 4) higher quality goods and services; and 5) innovation and new products and services.  According to the study, the integration of IT into virtually all aspects of the economy and society is creating a digitally-enabled economy that is responsible for generating the lion's share of economic growth and prosperity, both here and abroad, including in developing nations.  The "IT engine" does not appear likely to run out of gas anytime soon, and should power robust growth for at least the next decade, provided that policy makers take the right steps.  Toward that end, the report outlines five key public policy principles for driving digital prosperity.
Visit: http://www.itif.org/files/digital_prosperity.pdf

From Inside Higher Ed Quick Takes 3/7/07

The Path Through Graduate School: A Longitudinal Examination 10 Years After Bachelor’s Degree - 
About 40 percent of college graduates in 1992-93 had enrolled in a graduate program within a decade later, and 4 percent had pursued a doctoral degree, according to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics.  The report uses the Education Department’s Baccalaureate and Beyond database to examine enrollment patterns, time to degree, and other aspects of American graduate education. 
Visit: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/2007162.pdf

From Science & Government Report 3/9/07

A Call to Action: Why America Must Innovate and Building a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Agenda -  
The National Governors Association (NGA) details the agenda of the “Innovation America” task force.  While states have long competed among each other to attract science and technology investments and the jobs and economic development they bring along with them, the states are increasingly providing more of the funding and accompanying policies in such research fields as stem cells and nanotechnology.  The task force seeks to encourage this investment and to improve the teaching of math and science in their schools.  One element of the strategy calls for focusing state and business investments in geographical areas that already have attracted clusters of high-growth and innovative businesses.  Workforce training and educational institutions should focus their programs on the skills needed to meet the demainds ofor these fast-growing businesses.  On the flip side, entrepreneurial investments should take into account the particular skills that are available in these areas.
Visit: http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0702INNOVATIONCALLTOACTION.PDF         
        http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0702INNOVATIONSTEM.PDF

From The Chronicle of Higher Education 3/7/07

Hitting Home: Quality, Cost, and Access Challenges Confronting Higher Education Today - 
According to this report, if current patterns in higher education persist, the United States will have 15.6 million fewer bachelor’s and associate-degree holders than it needs to keep up with its top economic competitors in 2025.  To avoid such an outcome, the nation needs to increase its annual degree production by more than 37 percent, which will require graduating many more students who are members of minority groups, from low-income families, or beyond the traditional college age.  The report challenges the idea that colleges are helpless to hold down their costs and avoid the tuition increases that are making it harder for lower- and middle-class families to pay for college.  They argue that there needs to be much more focus on expanding the capacity of colleges and making them more productive.  In addition, higher-education systems and institutions need to be more cost-effective and to cooperate more with elementary and secondary schools. 
Visit: http://www.jff.org/download.php?file=HittingHome.pdf&KC_PubID=335

Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 2007 - 
The latest statistical report focuses on education and employment statistics for these groups.  Figures and tables detail degrees earned, occupations, age, country of birth and salary.  A complete update of the report is issued every two years.  Overall, the report shows a steady upward trend in students enrolling in and graduating from science and engineering programs, regardless of race or gender.  Those gains reflect an even more pronounced upswing in enrollments and degrees awarded in nonscientific fields.  More women are studying the hard sciences, like math and physics, than ever before but are still far outnumbered by men in those fields.  Black and Hispanic students also continued to make gains in the number of graduate and postgraduate degree earned between 1997 and 2004. 
Visit: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd