Federal Grant-Making to Women in STEM Research Fields: Analysis & Representation Proposals

In fiscal year 2014, U.S. universities received nearly $25 billion in federal grant funding for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research. Studies show women are largely underrepresented in STEM fields. Federal agencies are required to enforce Title IXa law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs receiving any federal financial assistanceincluding at universities they fund. GAO was asked to provide information on federal grant-making to women in STEM. This book examines the extent to which differences exist in federal grant awards between women and men in STEM fields; the extent to which federal agencies enforce Title IX at universities they fund for STEM research; and possible actions federal agencies could take to address the representation of women in STEM research.