(366j) Self-Efficacy in First-Year STEM Majors Correlates with Academic Progression

A group of first-year STEM majors with high financial need participated in surveys considering a variety of factors including: self-efficacy, sense-of-belonging, identity, teamwork self-efficacy, community involvement, and overall college experience. Student surveys were conducted at the start of their first semester and near the end of their second semester during the 2020-2021 academic year. Initial results for this student cohort indicate that a net positive increase in self-efficacy appears to correlate with progression in the college to a second year. One student had a slight decrease in the mean efficacy value and decided to change to a technical major outside the College of Engineering and Computing. Another student had a significant decrease in the mean efficacy value and did not continue on at the University. Details of the survey and results from other factors are provided. Inference based on this survey is being used to help guide university efforts in support of first-year student retention.