Communications of the ACM
Community Colleges Should rge Women to Pursue Science and Math Careers, Report Says
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Not enough women at community colleges are studying for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), which are among the U.S.'s fastest growing fields, according to a recent Institute for Women's Policy Research report. The report calls on community colleges to encourage female students to pursue careers in STEM fields, particularly low-income students and those with children. The report suggests actively recruiting women into STEM programs by emphasizing the economic value of occupations in those fields.
Although women make up nearly half of the labor force, only 25 percent of STEM jobs are held by women, according to the report. Employment in STEM-related fields is projected to increase by 10 percent between 2008 and 2018, and, in some subspecialties, that growth is projected to be up to 30 percent, the report notes. Community colleges could be key to boosting the number of women in STEM fields because they enroll a disproportionate number of low-income women, many of whom also are parents, according to the report, which also notes that those students tend to pursue lower-paying careers.
From The Chronicle of Higher Education
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