NOTE: This is part one in RN’s special series on “Growing more STEM degree recipients at FAMU.”A recent National Science Foundation (NSF) report lauded HBCUs for leading America in preparing blacks for success in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) doctoral programs.
At a time when only 29 percent of minority students finish STEM baccalaureates in six years, compared with 40 percent for all students, HBCUs have picked up much of the slack. From 1986 to 2006, HBCUs produced between 24 and 33 percent of blacks with STEM bachelor’s degrees. Unsurprisingly, HBCUs occupied the top nine spots on the NSF study which examined the collegiate alma maters of blacks who earned STEM Ph.Ds. FAMU ranked fourth on that list.
However, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education, some scholars have dismissed this accomplishment on the basis that “black colleges graduate Blacks in STEM as a result of their demographics, and doctoral degrees from these institutions are less competitive,”
The criticism of HBCU demographics (read: “majority black” status) is puzzling. Most HBCUs do not have STEM Ph.D. programs, which means a large share of their STEM bachelor’s degree recipients are excelling at predominantly white graduate institutions. Clearly, HBCU demographics have not been a liability to those STEM students.
Recounting an argument presumably directed against the idea of adding more STEM Ph.Ds at HBCUs as a means of increasing black representation in these fields, the article continued:
“[Minority serving institution] graduates can perform in the private sector in their respective STEM fields, said Dr. Richard Tapia, the Maxfield Oshman professor in engineering at Rice University, but it is unlikely that Ph.D.s produced at minority-serving schools or less prestigious schools will become faculty at top research universities.”
Private sector workforce demands, alone, justify creating more STEM Ph.Ds at HBCUs. Just last year, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates urged the academic world to step up its production of black computer science graduates in order to help avoid an imminent shortage of technology professionals.
"There will be a huge number of computer science jobs created over the next 10 years, and the number of people majoring in those subjects is falling short of that,” Gates remarked. Speaking specifically about Microsoft’s hiring goals, he emphasized: “"We want to get black engineers, Hispanic engineers...everyone that we can."
Furthermore, HBCUs should not be barred from building more STEM Ph.Ds simply because ivory tower universities are reluctant to hire men and women from these programs. Any “quality” complaints about HBCU education should be compared with the widely-reported grade inflation problems plaguing many elite institutions.
Lastly, the greatest scientific publishing gains are being made at institutions that aren’t part of the U.S. News & World Report’s top 20. In 2007, NSF ranked FAMU second among 200 universities for growth in faculty-led scientific publishing. With more STEM professors, FAMU and other state universities across America can play larger roles in research that benefits human health, the economy, and much more.
Also see: FAMU ranks fourth in producing blacks who earn STEM Ph.D.s
Sadly, this is not just an issue of HBCUs. Most high level schools simply REFUSE to hire a guy who did not go to a school of even MORE prestige. Most would not hire someone from their own PhD program. Fact of life in academia. FAMU would have just as much trouble as Mississippi State on this one.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I always advise folks looking to get advanced degrees to always move up in prestige for each degree. If you still harbor loyalty for your undergrad, you can always go back there to teach and build it up in status.
I am getting my PhD from FAMU! It is not where you go it is what you do and demand! When I was a little boy I told my father that my brother took something from me in the hopes that he would make him give it back, but my father simply said," well its his now unless you go and take it back." Sadly black folk wait for someone to give us something when all "white" america knows is taking! Therfore, I will not let them "take" my degree and diminish its value because it did not come from the University of Florida or any other "prestigous" school. As far as I am concerned FAMU/ Howard/ Spellman/ Fisk/ Morehouse and some others are all TOP Schools!
ReplyDeleteBlack America its been past time that we Take what we want!
Well what we have here are a group of- universities who have collectively decided that only their degrees represent academic rigor. They then turn to say that any degree earned outside of one of their approved institutions is "less than."
ReplyDeleteWell let's put it like this. You could have a Ph.D from McKinley Tech (DC high school) and if you actually create indisputable, world changing knowledge, these institutions will beat a path to your door begging you to come to their institution.
HOWEVER, if you aren't doing world class research these institutions will not accept your calls.
The Ph.D is a research degree. Either you're producing research or you're not. If you aren't producing meaningful research, then academia doesn't consider you much of a Ph.D.
For fields like the humanities and social sciences, where the job market is confined mainly to the academy, a Ph.D. from a "Top 20" university generally gives you the best chance of working at another "Top 20" university.
ReplyDeleteHowever, you can indeed research and publish your way to the top. Get articles and books printed by the most selective publishers, and you can land a job on one of the more selective university's faculties. HBCU Ph.D.s in these fields should definitely stress the importance of publishing to their students.
Additionally, everyone doesn't have to work at a "Top 20." Oftentimes, mid- and lower-ranked state univesities will offer higher starting salaries as a way of competing with the biggies.
The STEM fields offer more opportunties to work in industry (and make better money). Bill Gates doesn't seem to care about who has a degree from Harvard (the school he dropped out of) as much as he cares about who can help him create new software and microchips. He's looking for people with the right training; HBCU STEM Ph.D.s could definitely help fill those types of jobs.
If you are doing the research, they will come, but a lot of times you'll need some prestige to help open the door. If you want to get your PhD at UDC, go right ahead. Just don't expect to get in the Big Time right off the bat. Its basically the BCS version of academia. But with hard work, your school can start getting in there, like FIU is doing with their law school.
ReplyDeleteWell somebody needs to make a serious commitment to training more blacks with STEM doctorates because the majority universities aren't doing it.
ReplyDeleteI say give the HBCUs a chance.
You'd also think that with all the talk about luring more high-tech industries into Florida, that there'd be a bigger focus on getting bright scientists and engineers of all races into the workforce.
This state really needs to wake up and begin to make a serious investment in its own public universities.