Innovate America

Women are Still a Minority in STEM Majors Today’s college students have the opportunity and freedom to choose their major and their career path. Many factors influence the decision of a college student’s career paths including background, general interests, personal strengths, time commitment, and job outlook. Although many important decisions are made in college, one of the most important is the choice of major and career track. Out of hundreds of majors the science and engineering fields are under-represented by women. Although the numbers of women in science technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM, majors has been increasing in the past years, women still are in the minority in the STEM fields. In her study, Lona Whitmarsh

H-1B Visas In recent years, much has changed in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Three sources entitled, Rising above the Gathering Storm, Innovative America, and Tapping America's Potential argue that if Americans do not improve in the STEM field our economy will suffer, so will our exports, and will heavily impact America. If we do not improve then the standard of living may fall and so will our economy. The three reports talk about using more innovation and technology, if we do this then our economy will be stable. The proponents argue that we need to close achievement gaps, improve the quality of teachers, increase labor supply, improve our international ranking, and issue more H-1B visas. Workers in the STEM field think that their employers are replacing them because the H-1B foreign workers are cheaper. Although, critics argue that the STEM movement is sabotaging other countries so, America can be ahead. But, for the US to be ahead in innovation and STEM education, we need to issue more H-1B visas. The H-1b program is for guest workers from different countries.

With the emergence of technology the United States has invested heavily in STEM, the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math, as they are known to be the vehicle that continues to expand the economy with constant innovation. By gearing the nation to revolve their educational system on these four principles the United States is attempting to maintain its global leadership and competitive position as it is widely believed that U.S. students are consistently falling behind their contemporaries from other developed nations. A series of three reports published in 2005 argued that the alarming decline of STEM related graduates in the United States and its loosening grip as the world’s nucleus for scientific innovation.

In our ever evolving society we seem to be having a greater affinity to technical jobs and careers more integrated with our technology. It appears that we are heading into a world of Science, Technology , Engineering, and Mathematics or STEM. The STEM fields that are rapidly increasing relate to jobs that deal quite a bit with our newer technology and the creation and development of new and more efficient technologies. To compliment this increase in STEM careers, we need to focus our time, energy, and most of all capital on the lackluster STEM program in our school systems.

A STEM education is a necessity in the United States because the country is lacking knowledgeable people in such fields. However, one is better equipped for multiple job and career positions with the addition of a liberal arts education. It is nearly impossible to transition to different careers with only vocational training. In 2003, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development studied math and science literacy among fifteen year olds. The United States was ranked number twenty-four in math literacy (Drew 27). They are behind countries such as Finland, Slovak Republic, and Hungary. Likewise, the United States was ranked number nineteen in science literacy (Drew 27). It is obvious that the country is behind. STEM education needs to be reformed at the secondary and post-secondary levels of schooling. Katrina Trinko, a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors, agrees that more emphasis should be placed on STEM education; however, this emphasis should not be at the sacrifice of a good liberal arts education. She writes, “Even technology wizards can become more innovative with a solid background in liberal arts” (Trinko 6). A liberal arts education is beneficial to people in all career fields.

Since the 1990’s however, there has been a 33% increase in the number of Hispanic Students enrolling in STEM programs. This does not mean that they necessary complete their degree, as Hispanics more likely to drop out of the program or university than their white counterparts. It used to be that one required a formal collegiate education in order to enter the STEM field, but more and more STEM students are entering the field through the completion of IT technical programs, or certificate programs. Hispanics have been taking advantage of this easier pathway into STEM careers, as 24 % of all STEM technical certificates were earned by Hispanics in the 2009-2010 school year. Unfortunately, the percentage of STEM degrees earned by Hispanics experienced

Women in STEM Fields In a speech in February 2013 President Barak Obama said, “One of the things that I really strongly believe in is that we need to have more girls interested in math, science, and engineering. We’ve got half the population that is way underrepresented in those fields and

Some argue that there is a shortage of U.S. STEM workers, but the answer is not just black or white. The STEM field is heterogeneous, and varies from biomedical research to engineering.[footnoteRef:5] Therefore, analyzing whether there is a STEM shortage, depends on what field within the industry you

STEM: The H-1B Controversy In recent years, there has been a push for reform in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), which are known as the basis for innovation and advancement on a global scale. These fields serve as a vital tool in

STEM In America today controversy is on the rise about the desperate need for more STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workers. Many researchers have argued that STEM jobs need to be filled with more graduates that have liberal arts backgrounds. Alternatively other professionals argue that there isn’t really a shortage at all but instead a lack of STEM talent in specific areas. Educators need to encourage more students to choose majors in STEM fields. The president’s council of advisors on science and technology makes a very valid point. Over the next decade if the country were to retain its historical preeminence in science and technology, the U.S. will need to produce approximately 1 million more STEM workers. Some argue that the need to graduate more workers for STEM areas, while others admit that there is a need for more student majoring in STEM fields but also that we need more diverse students with liberal arts backgrounds. Along with more gender based diversity.

Introduction A goal of President Barack Obama’s Educate to Innovate initiative in 2008 was to increase the contributions of underrepresented minority (URM) students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) (White House, 2009). Notably, in the context of the United States, the fastest growing and youngest URMs are Hispanics. Demographic projections suggest that Hispanics will comprise 30 percent of the U.S. population by 2040 and the majority demographic group in several states (United States Census, 2008). Thus, the need to encourage and support innovation and competitiveness in STEM participation is important, especially for Hispanic students, who are significantly underrepresented. In 2009, Hispanics represented 16 percent of the U. S. population and 26 percent of all undergraduate enrollments, but they earned just 11.9 percent of STEM bachelor’s degrees in that year (National Science Foundation (NSF), 2010). In terms of STEM disciplines, Hispanics received 3.4 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in the life sciences, 0.7 percent in the physical sciences, 0.5 percent in mathematics, 2.6 percent in the computer science field and 4.7 percent in engineering (Chen, Ho & Soldner, 2013). This low STEM degree

Reasons for less women taking Stem majors Abstract. This report navigates the current state of STEM demographic in the country. It examines the reasons why there are less females undertaking STEM majors and gives recommendations on the problems. A brief history on STEM is outlined and the discussion follows with in depth analysis on the subject. STEM is a very critical education discipline with an importance in the economy of the country. Much as it is important, few students choose a career path in STEM. Although, there are more than 50% female students in Colleges and Universities, 12% take STEM related course. Why is this? This report is a compilation of empirical data collected in journals on the same subject explaining

Science education has been a controversial topic among employers and schools for years. Employers are requesting more STEM graduates yet the schools are unable to keep up with the rising demand. Unemployment rates continue to go up while positions in the science, technology, and engineering fields have remained open and unfulfilled. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education is vital to the position of the United States in the world standings in STEM research and design. Currently 3 of the 5 top positions in STEM research are held by Asian countries and sadly the United States doesn’t even fall in the top 10 for the list. There was once a time when the United States led the world in STEM research, but times have

In 2005, the three reports entitled Innovative America, Tapping America’s Potential, and Rising Above the Gathering Storm, argue that if the U.S. does not improve its science technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education the standard of living in the U.S. may decrease and threaten the economy and national security. The reasoning that the proponents use is that with more innovation and technological advancements, exports will increase and benefit the economy, but if there is no innovation this will harm the economy. The three reports, according to the Congressional Research Service, argue that in order to prevent these issues, we must close the academic achievement gaps in STEM, improve the quality of teachers, increase STEM labor supply, improve on international ranking assessments, produce more STEM degrees, and increase the number of H-1B visas issued. One of the most controversial subjects of the STEM movement is that companies are using H1-B visas to employ foreigners at cheaper rates rather than U.S. citizens. However, critics of the STEM movement argue that this is a strategic idea called “Brain Drain” where the U.S. is “draining” the most talented and skilled workers from other countries in order to gain an advantage on a global stage. In order for the U.S. to remain a leader in innovation and STEM education, the issue of H1-B visas needs to be addressed.

It is clear that STEM is a rapidly growing and advancing field that is needed for our human progression. There are so many different professions that fall under STEM education and many of them impact the world every day. According to former President Barack Obama "[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world" (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Here, former President Obama is talking about how important science is as more than just a school subject; science can be taken out of school and used to impact many people and change the world. Some may say that there have been other fields in history that became very popular but