Broadening Participation of Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM through a Hybrid Online Transfer Program.

ABSTRACT: The Microbiology and Cell Science (MCS) Department at the University of Florida (UF) developed a new model of a 2 + 2 program that uses a hybrid online approach to bring its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curriculum to students. In this paradigm, 2-year graduates transfer as online students into the Distance Education in MCS (DE MCS) bachelor of science program. The program has broadened access to STEM with a steadily increasing enrollment that does not draw students away from existing on-campus programs. Notably, half of the DE MCS students are from underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds and two-thirds are women, which represents a greater level of diversity than the corresponding on-campus cohort and the entire university. Additionally, the DE MCS cohort ha

SUBMITTER: Drew JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5008897 | biostudies-literature | Fall 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature