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Grants Administration

Computer Science, Mathematics & Technology (CMT)
Academic Rewards Program

Significance of Project and Rationale

The lack of gender and racial diversity among employed scientists and engineers is a national concern. Only 5.4% of scientists and engineers were Black and 3.8% Hispanic in 1999. Yet Blacks were 12.3% of the population and Hispanics 12.5% by 2000. Only 3.9% of White female freshmen nationally intended a major in mathematics, computer science or engineering whereas 12% of males intended such a major in fall of 2000. Of the Associate's degrees awarded in 2000 in the United States, 14% of degrees in engineering technology were awarded to women. Congress established the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development in 1998 with the sole purpose of bolstering representation of women and minorities in technical fields. But national attention must be combined with local action to recruit, award, support and promote academic success in CMT careers for women and minority Scholars. To this end, Calhoun Community College seeks to support talented financially disadvantaged students who may be from under-represented groups through the CMT Academic Rewards Program.

The Huntsville area is a recognized area of minority success. Huntsville was chosen as the top ci ty in the nation for Black Americans in "Best Places to Live for Black Americans " by Family Digest Magazine, March 2003 . Calhoun's graduation rates document that Blacks graduate or complete programs at a higher rate (19%) than any other racial group, including Whites (14%), as reported to IPEDS. However, the Black enrollment in high technology fields is still low. As of fall 2002, the Black student enrollment at Calhoun was 18% of the total student population but only 5% of the high technology enrollment.

The enrollment and graduation data for the college and for the participating programs is shown below. The percentage of degrees awarded is very low both at the college and in the affected programs. Among the reasons are the following. Calhoun offers transfer education, associate's degrees, and short-term training, however, the student database reports almost all students as though they are pursuing an associate's degree. A Noel-Levitz survey conducted in spring 2003 reported that only 39% of Calhoun students intend to pursue an associate's degree while 47% intend to take some course work and transfer to a university, and 14% to pursue short term certification or training. Several of the target programs are new including the CIS network technology program, advanced electronic manufacturing technology, manufacturing process technology and aerospace technology. These programs have been driven by local industry demand, but retention to graduation is likely to be a problem. This is because in high demand programs, students gain employment in the field before completing degree requirements, often taking a short-term certificate instead. Over 80% of all students work with 33.3% attending part-time thus stretching out the time to graduation. For example, of the 1,987 first time freshmen in fall 2000, over 500 were still enrolled three years later. In addition, neither Calhoun nor area employers have placed a premium on the degree itself, thus transfer and employment have been the primary goals rather than graduation. Even so, Calhoun and the target programs have been unsuccessful in retaining Hispanic and American Indian students to graduation and enrollees in the newer advanced technology programs have to-date been almost entirely white males.

Mathematics is a transfer option under the AS degree. In fall of 2003, Calhoun enrolled 140 mathematics majors. Of these, 2 graduated in the spring and an estimated 47% will transfer before completing a degree.

Fall 2000 Cohort First Time Freshmen: College and High Technology Data

Fall 2002 Total Enrollment in Applied Science Degree Programs

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