Increasing STEM Transfer Readiness Among Underrepresented Minoritized Two-Year College Students: Examining Course-Taking Patterns, Experiences, and Interventions

There is a strong need in the United States to increase the size and diversity of the domestic workforce trained in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). With almost half of all students that earn a baccalaureate degree enrolling in a 2-year public college at some point, the nation’s 2-year colleges provide great promise for improving the capacity of the STEM workforce for innovation and global competition while addressing the nation’s need for more equity between groups that have been historically included and those that have been economically and politically disenfranchized. Almost half of underrepresented minoritized (URM) students begin their post-secondary education at 2-year colleges yet their transfer rates within 5 years are only 16%. This study describes interventions put in place at a 2-year college to support increased transfer rates and STEM transfer readiness for URM STEM-interested students. The program studied, in place from 2017 through 2020, had an overall transfer rate of 45%. Analysis of administrative, transcript, and student survey data connects the program interventions to the existing research on STEM momentum and other research on URM STEM transfer success. Ultimately, this study identifies potential leading indicators of transfer readiness, providing much needed documentation and guidance on the efficacy and limitations of interventions to improve upward STEM transfer.

Keeping the farm business in the family: the case of farm and non-farm family businesses in the midwestern United States

Succession planning is a very crucial aspect of family business continuity. The successful transition of family businesses is especially important for small and medium scale family businesses which constitute the beginning phase of most businesses. This paper explores two critical aspects of succession planning, namely the decision to keep business ownership within the family and the transfer-readiness of family businesses. This study assessed potential correlates of these two constructs using data from small and medium scale farm and non-farm businesses in Midwest US. Results from a probit estimator showed that farm businesses were more likely to be kept within the family (P<0.01). For the full sample, the number of generations involved in daily management, the readiness of the senior management to delegate control, and the owner experience were found to be good correlates of the decision to keep the business within the family. For farms, we also found some correlation between the perception of the business as being successful and the decision to keep the business in the family (P<0.1). Results from the probit and bivariate probit models showed that capital and the number of generations in management are the most consistent correlates of transfer-readiness for the full and farm samples. Finally, we found that female owners of farm businesses were less likely to be ready for business transfers than their male counterparts (P<0.01).

Transition to Adult IBD Care: A Pilot Multi-Site, Telehealth Hybrid Intervention

Objective Transition to adult IBD care continues to be a challenge. Efficacious models of improving transition to adult care in the United States are lacking. We present data from a pilot, prospective, non-randomized, intervention implemented at IBD centers in the Midwest and Southeast United States. Design and Methods Adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 16–20 years) with IBD and their parents completed a 4- to 5-month transition program (1 in-person group session; 4 individual telehealth sessions). Primary outcomes were feasibility (i.e., recruitment, retention, fidelity) and acceptability (i.e., program satisfaction). Secondary outcomes were changes in transition readiness, self-management skill acquisition, perceived readiness to transfer to adult care, and disease knowledge. Results The study exceeded goals for recruitment (target N = 20; actual: 36) and retention (target: 80%; actual: 86.11%). On average, it took participants 20.91 ± 3.15 weeks to complete our 4- to 5-month intervention and there were no deviations from the study protocol. Participant ratings for overall program satisfaction, perceived helpfulness, and program length and format were positive. Increases in transition readiness, t(30) = 8.30, d = 1.49, p &lt; .001, self-management skill acquisition, t(30) = 3.93, d = 0.70, p &lt; .001, and disease knowledge, t(30) = 8.20, d = 1.58, p &lt; .001 were noted. AYA- and parent-perceived transfer readiness also improved (p’s &lt; .05; d’s = 0.76–1.68). Conclusions This article presents feasibility and acceptability data for a 4- to 5-month transition intervention. Improvements in AYA transition readiness, self-management skill acquisition, IBD knowledge, and AYA/parent perceived transfer readiness were also observed.

Pediatric to Adult Epilepsy Transition in Ambulatory Care: Benefits of a Multidisciplinary Epilepsy Transition Clinic

Children with epilepsy comprise 3.2% of the estimated 500,000 youth with special medical needs who move from the pediatric to adult care model annually. These 16,000 children who require transfer each year represent a challenging subset of 470,000 youth living with epilepsy in the United States. Transition and transfer of care are complex and require gradual processes. This period for youth with epilepsy is often associated with inadequate follow-up and increased risk of nonadherence. Furthermore, youth and adults with epilepsy are known to have suboptimal social and emotional outcomes compared with peers, with high rates of under education, underemployment, poverty, and struggles with mental health. The goal of improving social determinants and continuity of care prompted the development of formal epilepsy transition clinics. Multiple clinic models exist, sharing the overarching goal of supporting youth while building self-management skills, tailored to age and developmental level. Early evidence shows that transition discussion leads to statistically significant increases in transfer readiness and self-efficacy in young adults with epilepsy. Our center boasts a 100% attendance rate at our transition and transfer clinic and 78% compliance with follow-up, further demonstrating that patients and families value quality transition programming.