THE ROLE OF RESIDENTIAL COMMUNIIES FOR THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUCCESS OF UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN IN STEM MAJORS: THE CASE OF A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN ETHIOPIA

<p>This study is an exploratory case study which explored the residential environment of an Ethiopian public university on its role for the social and academic integration of undergraduate women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. It also explained how the social and academic integration of the women contributed for their overall college success.</p> <p> There were three groups of participants; undergraduate women in STEM, female resident proctors, and relevant officials from the university and the Ministry of Education of the Ethiopian government. Each of the participants were interviewed on a one-on-one basis and the interviews were transcribed and coded for the analysis. Supportive quantitative data about the enrollment, performance and retention of students were also gathered from the university's registrar office and analyzed quantitatively to support the qualitative data obtained through interviews. The study was framed by Tinto’s Integration Model and data were interpreted using Third World feminist theory.</p> <p> The findings showed that due to the fact that all same-sex, same-major women living in the same rooms, and all who live in one dorm take similar courses throughout their program, and dormitories serving multiple roles, including being collaboration spaces, played a big role for better social and academic integration of the women. It is also found that their social and academic integration helped them to better perform in their majors by enhancing their sense of belonging in the male-dominated STEM majors, enhancing their commitment, and promoting peer encouragement. On the other hand, the findings also showed that there were some factors which have negative influence in the integration process such as negative stereotypes against the presence and good performance of women in STEM, lack of support system, and limited interaction with faculty. So, the study recommends that working on improving the negatively influencing factors will enhance the positive impact the resident environment is bringing for the success of undergraduate women in STEM in the university studied.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Teaching and Leadership

Year

2017

Author dc:creator

• Wuhib, Frehiwot Wuhib

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sharon Dotger

• Academic Integration
• College Residence
• Living Learning Programs
• Social Integration
• STEM
• Women
• Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://surface.syr.edu/etd/715

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:surface.syr.edu:etd-1715