Mentoring and Diversity

1
Mentoring and Diversity
Preparing Students for Graduate Studies in
Science, Engineering and Mathematics
Supported in part by the MORE Division of NIGMS,
NIEHS, NSF, HHMI
2
African American SEM PhD Production in the United
States
1986 1.1 1992 1.2
1995 2.0
Source NSF
3
SEM PhD and Medical School Production in 2000
Source NSF WebCASPAR database
4
U.S. Population Projections

2001 2025 2050 Caucasian
71 62
53 African American 12
13 13 Hispanic American
12 18
24 Asian Pacific Islander 4
6 9 Native American
1 1
1
Source US Census Bureau
5
THE MEYERHOFF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
6
Typical High School SAT Scores
Data shown for 1999. Average SAT for Current
Freshman 2005 Cohort 1310
7
Are we really making a difference?
Comparison between Meyerhoff - Students from
first three coeducational cohorts
(1990-1992) Declined - Students who declined
Meyerhoff offers and went to other universities
(1990-1992) Pre-Meyerhoff - Students who entered
UMBC prior to Meyerhoff program and met Meyerhoff
criteria UMBC - students who entered UMBC
1990-1992 who met Meyerhoff Criteria (all African
Americans are Meyerhoff students) Maton, K.,
Hrabowski, F. (1999). African American College
Students Excelling in the Sciences College and
Postcollege Outcomes in the Meyerhoff Scholars
Program. Journal of Research in Science
Teaching, 37, 69-654.
8
Graduation Majors
UMBC Students (1990-1992) SEM Graduation Majors
9
Graduate Education
Meyerhoff (1990-1992) versus pre-Meyerhoff
10
Science, Engineering,and Math (SEM) GPA
Students who accepted Meyerhoff
offer versus Students who declined 1990-1992
11
Students who Remainedin SEM Discipline
Meyerhoff students versus those who declined
offer (1990-1992)
12
SEM GraduatesPost-Baccalaureate
Students who accepted Meyerhoff offer versus
those who declined (1990-1992)
13
IMSD GraduateProgram Components

• Summer Bridge Program
• Eight-weeks for first-year students include a
  research rotation, a Technical Writing Course and
  Chemistry Workshops for Chemistry/Biochemistry
  students as well as social activities.
• Monthly meetings
• Seminars by students, mentors and established
  underrepresented scientists
• Annual weekend retreat
• Student travel to scientific meetings to present
  thesis research results
• Counselor to provide consultation, assistance and
  support
• Undergraduate Summer Biomedical Training Program

14
Outreach is critical
Summer Biomedical Training Program
As of November 2004 390 URM applicants since
1998 80 participants from 26 universities
throughout the U.S. 87 of graduates
matriculated to graduate and/or professional
schools 18 joined PhD programs at UMBC. 6
Additional Summer Outreach Programs based on the
IMSD model.
15
Meyerhoff Graduate FellowsApplications by Major
16
Meyerhoff Graduate FellowsTotal Enrollment
17
Meyerhoff Graduate FellowsPhD Student Retention
18
Conclusions
Very large numbers of high-achieving URM high
school and undergraduates are interested in SEM
fields....
few are retained
Retention of undergraduates can be increased by
1. Providing Summer Bridge and
Freshman-year support. 2. Exposure to
mentors in research labs as soon as possible.
3. Involvement of motivated, successful
administration, faculty. 4. Provide an
inclusive environment.
URM Graduate Students can be recruited and
retained by 1. Outreach to minority
serving undergraduate institutions. 2.
Summer bridge and Year-1 support. 3.
Modernized selection procedures. 4.
Provide an inclusive environment (Diversive AND
Inclusive).