Opportunity with STEM: Attract, Retain, and Diversify ACS & the Congress Project

Graduates of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degrees stand to earn more in their lifetime while contributing innovation and technical expertise necessary for a robust society. Further, improving the diversity of such graduates will produce a workforce that empowers all communities to equally share in the benefits of a STEM-literate society. The success of STEM programming thus depends on attracting aspirational students and providing the resources for them to excel in learning. Further, teaching and mentoring methods need re-tooling and energetic instructors to retain the majority and greatest diversity of students enrolled in STEM programs to graduate with a STEM degree. This panel discussed opportunities and policy measures that can develop students’ creative and critical thinking skills to produce diverse graduates with a bright nation-driving future.