NSF funds rural science study

The National Science Foundation has awarded funding to Clemson University professor Darris Means to investigate how rural students succeed in life science programs. The grant will support a study that focuses on the specific assets and networks that allow these students to persist through their final year of study rather than analyzing why they drop out.

Means, a professor of educational leadership, is flipping the traditional research approach. He stated that scholars often view rural students through a deficit lens by focusing on failure. Instead, his team will examine the resources and support systems that enable successful completion of degrees.

The project will use participatory action research methods. Six undergraduate life sciences majors from rural communities will join the study. These students will help finalize the research design, collect data, and analyze findings. They will also develop practical resources for faculty and academic advisers.

The research team plans to interview 40 rural students who have reached the final year of their life-science programs at participating universities. The student researchers will come from Clemson University, the University of Georgia, and the University of North Georgia. Means will work with partners Julie Stanton from the University of Georgia, Jori Hall from the University of Illinois, and Sonja Ardoin from Clemson University.

Existing data shows a divergence in STEM interest between rural and suburban students as they progress through high school. Ninth-grade rural and suburban students report similar interest in science careers. However, by the 11th grade, suburban students show greater interest. This gap widens after high school, making rural students less likely to enroll in STEM degree programs.

Means serves as the Jackie Bezos Researcher-in-Residence at the Bezos Foundation. He is also the president-elect designate for the National Rural Education Association. In these roles, he leads national efforts to support rural education and shapes the foundation's research agenda. His work aims to identify where investments can have the greatest impact.

The study aims to produce webinars and briefs that help faculty recognize the strengths of rural students. Means believes that involving students with direct experience in the research process improves the design and interpretation of the findings. He stated that having students speak directly to faculty about their successes will help institutions better support this population.

The project seeks to understand what enables rural students to buck existing trends in higher education. By identifying successful strategies, the team hopes to create tools that faculty can use to incorporate those strengths into mentoring. The goal is to amplify the networks and opportunities that help rural students thrive in science programs.