December 17, 2020
Three Strategies to Improve Diversity in STEM Fields
Policymakers Must Address Pervasive Disparities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Fields
Despite increased attention on building a more diverse STEM pipeline, data and conversations with employers point to persistent challenges. California Competes discussed these challenges with members of the California Business Roundtable during a focus group to identify strategies to improve higher education and workforce alignment.
Employers told us that they want to hire more diverse candidates but struggle to recruit from colleges and universities. Data reveal mixed outcomes when evaluating diversity in STEM fields over time.
Both employers and leaders in higher education must work together to overcome pervasive disparities in STEM fields that have persisted and even worsened in the 21st century.
California Competes has identified three policy solutions aimed at building diversity among STEM majors and in the STEM workforce.
Read more in our latest blog post from California Competes Executive Director Dr. Su Jin Gatlin Jez.
Featured Items
Strategies to Increase Diversity in STEM Fields
Su Jin Gatlin Jez |
December 17, 2020
When California Competes facilitated a focus group with the California Business Roundtable and some of the organization’s members, it became clear that despite an increased focus on recruiting a more diverse talent pool into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, there’s still a great need for policy reforms—both in higher education and the workforce.
Credit for Prior Learning: Leveraging Past Learning to Close Present-Day Equity Gaps
California Competes |
August 11, 2020
This brief outlines how and why credit for prior learning (CPL) deserves a more prominent role among college and university programs offered for California adults. More uniform and widely implemented CPL policies throughout California’s public higher education segments could elevate the economic trajectories for hundreds of thousands of uncredentialed adults — while helping the state increase degree attainment and meet workforce demands.
California Postsecondary to Prosperity Dashboard
July 29, 2020
The California Postsecondary to Prosperity Dashboard braids together multiple data sources to provide a single portal with high-quality information on the state of opportunity in higher education, employment, and quality of life across California’s diverse regions.