Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / U.S. women have obtained advanced science and engineering degrees with increasing frequency, yet have not achieved promotions at rates comparable to men's. Men may advance more expeditiously than women due to more supportive professional networks, which can improve access to information and opportunities. Few studies have examined social networks in the context of advanced graduate programs, yet graduate programs are where many scientists develop important relationships helpful in advancing careers. This study addressed the extent to which graduate students' networks (primary advisors, mentors, peers, and family) are associated with academic indicators (i.e., grade-point average, academic progress, student satisfaction, and career commitment); the extent to which these network and academic variables vary by gender; the extent to which network characteristics mediate associations between gender and academic variables; and the extent to which gender match or mismatch of the student and primary advisor is associated with network characteristics and academic variables. Two hundred and thirty-nine doctoral students (58% women, 42% male; mean age 28 years; 29% non-Caucasian) from 18 science and engineering departments at a large research university completed a brief internet survey about their network relationships and academic indicators. Graduate women reported significantly less satisfaction and more negative perceptions of academic progress than did graduate men. Female students with female primary advisors were significantly less satisfied with their graduate experience than were students in other gender pairings. Male students were more likely than female students to have primary advisors who had significant funding, directed a graduate program, and directed a research center. Male students also reported greater satisfaction overall with their mentors. Female students reported larger mentor networks and more emotional support resources received from mentors and peers. Gender differences in overall student satisfaction were partially explained by male students feeling significantly more overall satisfaction with their mentors and a sense of apprenticeship with their advisors as compared to female students. These findings illuminate some important differences between male and female student networks, especially in advising and mentoring relationships, which may be contributing to dissatisfaction and the perception of less academic progress among female students. / 2031-01-01

A number of studies have sought to identify factors influencing STEM students’ success in colleges and universities (Crisp et al., 2009; Excelencia, 2011; Hagedorn & Purnamasari, 2012). However, there are few qualitative studies focusing on students’ perspectives and how they make meaning of their experiences as participants in a mentoring program. The main purpose of this research was to explain the perceptions of Latino students in a STEM Mentoring Program at Miami Dade College. Because this study sought to gain an in-depth understanding of how students involved in a mentoring program make meaning of their experiences, the type of qualitative research that fits this inquiry was a single case study. This study was undertaken to address these questions: (a) How do STEM students make meaning of mentorship? (b) How do STEM students construct their experiences in the Program? (c) To what extent do gender and ethnicity play a role in how students make meaning of their mentoring experiences? (d) What do students identify as important for succeeding in a mentorship program? The major findings of this study were: (1) For the participants, a formal mentoring programs offers various forms of academic support, but they found interpersonal support with informal mentors; (2) For the participants, in a formal mentoring program a career match between mentor and mentee is essential; (3) For the participants, the required number of meetings in a formal mentoring program was burdensome, but other required activities were important; (4) For the participants, the peer mentoring experience was important and self-fulfilling; (5) For the participants, the gender or race of the mentor was insignificant, but some believed that sharing the same cultural background made them feel more connected with their majors; and (6) For the participants, encouragement and emotional support from their families was important, but only those with college-educated parents received the academic and financial support necessary important to succeed in college; (7) For the participants, a mentoring program will be successful if there are opportunities for building community among students and faculty, but ultimately, what matters for success are the personal characteristics of students. This study was significant because it provided insight into what students understand are key experiences of being in a mentoring program, and it also identified the kinds of institutional support students themselves thought would help in STEM careers. This information can help institutions of higher education plan and administer effective mentoring programs in STEM or even other fields.

While the computer programing becomes a fundamental skill in the last century, it has been globally acknowledged that there is a decline in number of graduates in disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Many scholars have been addressing this lack of interest and studied student engagement with STEM through variety of engagement programs and activities. In this master thesis as an exploratory qualitative study, technology and programing are blended together in a workshop hosting students of age 12-13 towards the development of their enthusiasm and engagement with STEM. During the activity, students used Makey Makey toolkit and Scartch programming language by application of textiles as soft material to investigate how this combination impact the engagement, and in what ways soft materials influence it. The study results in the light of Flow theory showed that four attributes of attention, motivation, engagement and social interaction pursued in the workshop. Textiles, as a mediator by expanding the flow state boundaries make the activity softer to encourage students being engaged in it, particularly from a gender perspective.