In this issue:

Multicontextuality: 
A New Perspective on Minority Underrepresentation in SEM Academic Fields

Multicontextuality Unpacked

An Interview with Dr. Sheila E. Brown

A Comparative study of the Impact of Differing Forms of Financial Aid on the Persistence of Minority and Majority Doctoral Students

A Profile of an MGE Institution: Georgia Tech

From the editors

About Our Icon

Managing Editor:Yolanda S. George
Editor: 
Virginia Van Horne
Art Director:
Ann Williams
 

Making Strides is a free, quarterly (April, July, October, and January) research newsletter published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Directorate for Education and Human Resources Program. Its purpose is to share information about minority graduate education (MGE) in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. It is available in print and electronic format. Inquiries, information related to MGE, and all correspondence should be sent to the editor. 

Ibarra approaches the problem of minority underrepresentation in the academic fields of science, mathematics and engineering from the perspective of the students and the cultural contexts that such students bring—raising some interesting and provocative issues. Interestingly, critics of the current higher education system echo the strategies that Ibarra is proposing: broadening the experiences provided as part of graduate education, focusing on problem-focused interdisciplinary work, expanding the reward system beyond a narrow emphasis on research and publications, requiring small group work to support education in calculus and physics and working in diverse teams.

Industry needs personnel who can work in global markets. Universities need faculty who can teach an increasingly diverse student population. Government needs employees who can focus on complex problems that affect all of its population. Whether we like it or not, the structure of higher education in science, mathematics and engineering will have to evolve in order to serve its larger role within society.