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Re: Recruiting Science / Physics Students



Here, at Illinois State University, we are bucking the trend. We have around 100 majors in four
degree lines (physics, engineering physics, computer physics, and physics teacher education). We
graduate around 20 per year. The large majority of students are from Illinois. We only offer
undergraduate degrees and are working hard to have the premier undergrad program in the state.


On Sun, 1 Aug 2004, Bob LaMontagne wrote:

I'm a little puzzled by this. We have had a surge in
enrollment in the sciences, especially in the number of
female students (mostly going into biology, but a few in
chemistry and engineering). We have had to open an extra
section of general physics to accommodate this increase. Is
this an anomaly or are others having similar experiences?

Bob at Providence College


We see the same thing next door to you here at Conn. College, but with
the majority going to biology, then chem. We are holding steady in
physics, but that is *only* because the college has a strong commitment to
admit foreign students. They currently are about 50%, or more of our
majors. We are losing potential physics students (declared freshmen) to
computer science in the sophomore year. Economic opportunities are
certainly driving that decision.
We have been lucky in having 30-40% female majors, but the majority,
again, are foreign born; mainly eastern Europe. Great students! But, the
lack of Americans is telling.


Mike Monce
Connecticut College