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
African American SEM PhD Production in the United States
1986
1992
1995
Source: NSF
1.1 %
1.2 %
2.0 %
SEM PhD and Medical School Production in 2000
S&E Including Medical and Other Life Sciences
79%
African
American
Native
American
Asian
Hispanic
American
Caucasian
4%
10%
1%
4%
2%
Other
Source: NSF WebCASPAR database
U.S. Population Projections
Caucasian
African American
Hispanic American
Asian & Pacific Islander
Native American
Source: US Census Bureau
2001
71%
12
12
4
1
2025
62%
13
18
6
1
2050
53%
13
24
9
1
THE MEYERHOFF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Typical High School SAT Scores
Data shown for 1999. Average SAT for Current Freshman 2005 Cohort: 1310
1290
659
630
1400
1016
1200
1000
511
505
800
856
Meyerhoff M11 Class
600
400
434
422
National
200
African American
0
Verbal
Math
Total
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 (19901992)
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.
Graduation Majors
UMBC Students (1990-1992)
SEM Graduation Majors
30
25
9
14
20
15
28
10
10
5
1
7
4
2
1
0
Not Likely to
Graduate in
SEM
Graduated in
Non-SEM
4
Caucasian (N=31)
Asian (N=31)
Meyerhoff (N=31)
0
Likely to
Graduate in
SEM
13
Graduated in
SEM
Graduate Education
Meyerhoff (1990-1992)
versus pre-Meyerhoff
25
20
22
8
12
15
8
10
Meyerhoff (N=31)
5
5
1
0
No Post-College
SEM
Medical School
SEM Graduate
Program
Pre-Meyerhoff (N=31)
Science, Engineering,
and Math (SEM) GPA
3.20
Students who accepted
Meyerhoff offer
versus
Students who declined
1990-1992
3.10
3.16
3.00
2.90
2.90
2.80
2.70
Accepted (N=93)
Declined (N=24)
Students who Remained
in SEM Discipline
Meyerhoff students versus those who declined offer
(1990-1992)
77
80
60
7
40
5
4
Meyerhoff (N=93)
20
3
15
1
16
0
Not Likely to
Graduate in NonLikely to
Graduate in SEM
SEM
Graduate in SEM
Graduated in
SEM
Declined (N=35)
SEM Graduates
Post-Baccalaureate
Students who accepted Meyerhoff offer versus those who declined
(1990-1992)
43
38
33
28
23
18
13
8
3
-2
43
23
22
20
5
2
9
No-Post College SEM Major Still in Medical School
SEM
College
3
Meyerhoff (N=93)
Declined (N=34)
SEM Graduate
Program
IMSD Graduate
Program 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
Outreach is critical
Summer Biomedical Training Program
120
As of November 2004:
Number of Applicants
390 URM applicants since 1998
100
80 participants from 26 universities
throughout the U.S.
80
87% of graduates matriculated to
graduate and/or professional schools;
18% joined PhD programs at UMBC.
60
40
6 Additional Summer Outreach Programs
based on the IMSD model.
20
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows
Applications by Major
Total IMSD PhD Applications
60
Inception of
Outreach
50
40
30
20
10
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows
Total Enrollment
14
12
BIOL
CHEM
10
BIOC
PSYC
8
ENG
6
4
2
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows
PhD Student Retention
14
Enrolled
Retained
12
Students
10
8
6
4
2
0
BIOL
CHEM
BIOC
PSYC
ENG
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).