Beyond the Pipeline: STEM Pathways for Youth Development

This report describes how Project Exploration, a STEM pipeline alternative, has identified a disproportionate exit of minority and female students from STEM programs. The authors used a mix of quantitative and qualitative data to assess efficacy of Project Exploration's efforts to engage minority and female students who traditionally are under-represented in the STEM pipeline. Based on the success of their alternative approach, the authors propose an alternative model of a STEM pipeline that is based on a matrix of progressive competencies.