2025 Collaborative Network for Engineering & Computing Diversity (CoNECD)

Community college is a popular pathway for underrepresented students in STEM. Approximately half of Black, Hispanic, and American Indian undergraduate students are enrolled in community colleges, and more than 40 percent of undergraduate women students attend community college [1]. Notably, more than 80 percent of community college students indicate a desire to complete a bachelor’s degree or higher, and those who do transfer have been found to have higher baccalaureate completion rates than students who begin their studies at a four-year university [2, 3, 4]. Unfortunately, only about 1 in 3 students make it to transfer, regardless of major.

Through a phased research study of STEM transfer students, researchers discovered that women in community college who declared a major in engineering or computer science were much more likely than men to switch out of those majors. In addition, community college students are less likely than their university counterparts to belong to professional societies, which offer exposure to academic and professional networks, mentors, and career opportunities. To address this, a professional STEM society created programming in 2023 to increase community college women’s membership and support their engagement in societal activities. The program reduces financial barriers with free memberships and stipends for community college groups to host events and activities, engages community college students through a society affinity group, and offers virtual and in-person sessions at society events focused on two-year students.

This paper will discuss the programming design, process, and results to date, specifically focusing on whether the new offerings are increasing community college student membership and engagement with the society and how the program is identifying and responding to challenges specific to this group given its diverse makeup and unique needs. The paper will also discuss additional challenges facing women on the community college pathway towards a STEM bachelor’s degree, and the evaluation plan in place to track the retention and completion of community college student members’ STEM degrees.

[1] Digest of Education Statistics. (2024). U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics.

[2] L. Horn & P. Skomsvold. (2011). Community college student outcomes: 1994-2009. National Center for Education Statistics.

[3] National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (2017). The role of community colleges in postsecondary success: Community colleges outcomes report.

[4] R. Rincon. (2017). Diversifying STEM: Student success and community college transfer in engineering and computer science in Texas. Society of Women Engineers.