Evaluating the Barriers Faced by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island Undergraduate Students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Abstract

This study evaluates the barriers faced by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM). First, a literature review was conducted in which potential barriers were identified. A survey was then distributed to NHPI undergraduate STEM majors at UHM to understand the prevalence of these barriers within this group of students. The survey results were then analyzed. Based on the survey results, a website was created to help dismantle these barriers, featuring information and resources regarding scholarships, undergraduate opportunities, tutoring, and NHPI role models in STEM.