Work

Taking it One Step at a Time: The Growth of a Program to Support the Doctorates of Tomorrow

Year: 2025

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: First-generation, low-income students, and racially minoritized students face structural educational inequities, resulting in lower rates of graduate degree attainment compared to their counterparts [1].A Step to the Doctorate Institute (S2D) at Virginia Tech's Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (VT CEED) bridges the gap between undergraduate and graduate programs, boosting underrepresented minority engagement in graduate education by providing an opportunity to work with professionals in preparing for graduate school.The purpose of the exploratory study is to (a) provide a brief literature review on graduate education for underserved populations, (b) describe an overview of Virginia Tech's A Step to the Doctorate Institute and administrative efforts in identifying key program components, and (c) conclude with an assessment of program effectiveness in supporting student academic trajectories.

DOI: 10.18260/1-2--54114

Authors: Travis Chan, Tremayne Waller, Cynthia Hampton

Institution: Virginia Tech

Language: English

Topic: Higher Education Research Studies

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Funder: Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, Australian Research Council

OpenAlex ID: W4409294585