A Bermuda triangle in STEM: An examination of broadening participation, diversity, equity, and inclusion within the US National Science Foundation’s REU program

Like many educational policies in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion, the US NSF’s Broadening Participation Initiative (BP) has the inherent issue of policy implementation. Typically, the success of such policy relies heavily on the persons involved in policy execution and the procedures/practices used to achieve the initiative’s goal(s). People, policy, and procedures/practices are interconnected like points on an equilateral triangle that serve evenly balanced functions. In theory, when each piece works simultaneously in harmony, successful policy implementation with collective impact ensues. However, a breakdown or disconnect between any of the three vertices gives rise to policy implementation failure. Through inquiry, this study investigates the challenges faced when defining the separate constructs of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how BP is implemented in US NSF REU programs. Probed in this study are Principal Investigators who are extremely instrumental in accomplishing the US NSF’s goal of increasing minority participation in STEM education and the workforce.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum and Instruction

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Mitchell, Marlon E

Contributors dc:contributor

• Boyce, Ayesha
• Harris, Violet
• Willis, Arlette
• Avent, Cherie
• Reck, Rebecca

• Broadening Participation
• Stem
• National Science Foundation
• Diversity
• Equity
• Inclusion
• Reu

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Marlon Mitchell

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124399

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F124399