UNCF: Building the
STEM Pipeline
One Student at a Time
October 31, 2012
The Challenge
• During the next 10 to 15 years, U.S. STEM demand
across most industries will outpace supply due to an
aging, underprepared, and diminishing workforce;
• Our nation lacks a coordinated focused effort to
produce a strong pipeline of diverse, highly skilled
STEM workers;
• Minorities, particularly African Americans, are vastly
underrepresented in STEM due to inadequate
foundational skills in middle and high school, lack of
financial resources for college, and low awareness
of/interest in STEM and related careers
The Opportunity
• Nearly 70% of growth in young adults (ages 18-24)
is among members of a minority group
• By 2014, 38% of young adults (ages 18-24) will be
people of color
• In STEM fields, historically black colleges and
universities (HBCUs) are ahead of the nation’s
larger, wealthier majority institutions in producing
African American graduates
– 40 percent in biology, math, computer, and health
sciences
– 23 percent of all engineers
The Capacity
• With access to 60,000 students 39 historically black college
campuses, UNCF is uniquely positioned to help advance the
dialogue on minority STEM education and employment.
• UNCF has administered over 80 STEM programs (scholarships,
internships & fellowships) including 25 current programs,
which will provide awards in excess of $25 million this year
alone.
• UNCF is building minority presence in STEM through major
initiatives, including the $33 million UNCF/Merck Science
Initiative—a biomedical science program, and the $1.6 billion
Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program, which serves
African-American, Hispanic American, American Indian/Alaska
Native and Asian Pacific Islander students, alone has produced
more than 1,300 STEM graduates in the last 7 years. Currently
470 graduate GMS Scholars are pursuing advanced degrees in
STEM fields.
Partnership Vision
• Increase awareness among minorities about
career opportunities in the science industry.
• Establish the UNCF/Sanford-Burnham at Lake
Nona Scholars Program to encourage and
prepare more minorities to pursue careers in
science.
• Collaborate with minority associations to
develop a national consortium of likeminded
partners to collaboratively address the shortage
of minority professionals in the industry.
The UNCF/Sanford Burnham Institute Scholars Program
Key Elements:
Internships (8-10 weeks) - Provide Sanford-Burnham at Lake Nona
Scholars with meaningful development opportunities to further their
interest in the science industry and prepare them for entry and
successful careers.
Scholarships – Provide incentives for entering the field and remove
the financial barrier to producing graduates by providing scholarships
for minority students majoring in science-related disciplines.
Mentoring – Provide mentors from within the Sanford-Burnham
Institute at Lake Nona to build relationships and provide
encouragement as well as professional and academic support.
The UNCF/Sanford-Burnham Institute
at Lake Nona Internship Program
• UNCF will identify target recruiting high schools in
collaboration with the Sanford-Burnham Institute at Lake
Nona.
• Students apply in their high school senior year and intern
with the Sanford-Burnham Institute at Lake Nona in the
summer at the end of their freshman year.
• Students will apply online through UNCF’s website using
an electronic application developed specifically for the
Sanford-Burnham Institute at Lake Nona.
• Applicants will be screened by UNCF with a final
candidate pool presented to the Sanford-Burnham
Institute at Lake Nona for selection.
The UNCF/Sanford-Burnham Institute
Scholars Program
Selection Criteria
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Be a High School senior
Student should be majoring in biology, chemistry, physiology, or a similar
major with a specific focus in biomedical science.
GPA of at least 3.2.
Students should have taken at least 1 semester of wet lab courses
appropriate to their major prior to start of the internship. Enrollment in the
lab course at the time of award is acceptable.
Demonstrate a commitment to consider the Sanford-Burnham Institute at
Lake Nona as a potential career objective.
Provide a letter of recommendation;
Have a one-page personal statement of career goals and specifically why
they are considering the Sanford-Burnham Institute at Lake Nona
program.
Complete an application describing extracurricular activities, honors and
awards, community service and interests outside their major.
The UNCF/Sanford-Burnham Institute Program
Scholarships/Internships
•UNCF/Sanford-Burnham Institute at Lake Nona Program
Scholars will receive renewable, last dollar scholarships of up
to $25,000 providing the student continues to meet identified
eligibility criteria.
•Student will also receive a paid summer internship at the
Sanford-Burnham Institute for four years.
Benefits to STEM Pipleline Program
• A tailored diversity solution that supports pipeline
development
• Access to a talent pool of minority students
majoring in its targeted fields of study
• Competitive advantage in seeking to recruit the
best talent
• Proven success – 72% of job offers extended
accepted by students on average