ASSESSING THE VALUE OF THIRD SPACE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN DOCTORAL STUDENTS IN STEM DEGREE PROGRAMS
ASSESSING THE VALUE OF THIRD SPACE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN DOCTORAL STUDENTS IN STEM DEGREE PROGRAMS
Loading...
Files
Publication or External Link
Date
2023
Authors
Aparakakankanange, Erika
Advisor
Elby, Andrew
Citation
Abstract
The study examined how the NSF-funded, Maryland PROMISE AGEP program, theSummer Success Institute, functions as what is known as a third space. Ten African
American doctoral students in STEM disciplines shared their perceptions of the
benefits of being in a third space. The study hypothesized that SSI operates as a third
space, promotes persistence, and combats social isolation in graduate school. The
study expands on current work exploring the need for a program like the Maryland
PROMISE AGEP’s Summer Success Institute to provide critical mass and its
intended outcomes of producing diverse doctoral graduates who pursue faculty
positions. This paper includes the works of Oldenburg, Bhabha, Yosso, and Lovitts’
research to frame the role of SSI as a third space. These approaches provide
administrators, faculty, students, and institutions with theories that can be applied to
efforts highlighting the positive aspects of graduate education and supporting African
American graduate student persistence.