Wright State selected by national group to study STEM master’s programs

Wright State University is among five major universities selected by the Council of Graduate Schools to study completion and attrition in science, technology, engineering and math master’s programs.

Purdue, Loyola, Southern Illinois and Texas A&M were also chosen as research partners.

“This will be the first study of its kind in the United States, and we are delighted to work with these innovative graduate schools on this unique project,” said Debra Stewart, president of the council.

The universities will collect data on completion and attrition in STEM master’s degree programs, conduct student focus groups, survey graduate program directors and administer surveys to students, graduates and those who do not complete their degrees.

The data will enable stakeholders to better understand reasons for enrollment, factors that contribute to student success and promising practices to improve completion.

“A master’s degree in a STEM field often offers a clear pathway to professional employment and career success,” said Stewart. “In this economy, more than ever, we need to better understand the factors affecting completion and attrition at the master’s level.”

The effort is being supported with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Each university will receive $30,000 for participating. The awards were announced June 21.

Additional institutions will be invited to join in the research effort as unfunded project partners. The study’s findings will be released in 2013.

The Council of Graduate Schools is an organization of over 500 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada engaged in graduate education, research and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees.

For more information contact: Belle Woods (202) 223-3791 or  bwoods@cgs.nche.edu; Dr. R. William Ayres 937-775-2976 or r.ayres@wright.edu