Colorado Diversity Initiative
Institution:
University of Colorado Boulder
State:
Colorado
Academic Level:
Graduate
Issue Area:
Academic Program
Program Focus:
STEM
Key Personnel:
Barbara Kraus
Contact Info:
Overview
CDI aims to increase the number of STEM doctoral scholars from underserved groups both at CU Boulder and nationally. Our programs prepare undergraduates for successful entrance into STEM PhD programs, and increase retention of underserved PhD students at CU Boulder.
Program Description
The Colorado Diversity Initiative (CDI) prepares undergraduates for graduate school, recruits and retains a growing number of doctoral students, and prepares recent PhD recipients for faculty positions through elite postdoctoral fellowships. Its Summer Multicultural Access to Research Training (SMART) program prepares 25 high achieving minority students from institutions nation-wide for doctoral programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The 10-week summer program provides in-depth research experience with a faculty mentor at a leading research university. The National Institutes of Health–Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars Program is a year-round comprehensive research program for University of Colorado (CU)-Boulder students majoring in any bioscience or bioengineering field. Approximately 25 NIH-HHMI scholars participate in either entry- or advanced-level research. Both programs offer workshops on scientific writing and dissemination, GRE preparation and the application process for graduate school.
Outcome
CU-Boulder first applied for NSF-AGEP funding in spring 2000. Fall 1999 enrollments were used as a baseline, and at that time, there were 41 underrepresented doctoral students in STEM departments (4% of total enrollment). Data from fall 2007 indicates enrollment of 80 underrepresented minority doctoral students, an increase of almost 100% and 6% of total STEM students. Of the 80 doctoral students, 56 (70%) are Hispanic. The minority enrollment in the College of Engineering more than tripled during this same time period, increasing from eight students (2% of total) to 26 (6%) in fall 2007. The College awarded seven PhDs to underrepresented minorities in the fiscal year ending June 2007. Since fiscal year 2000, CUBoulder has awarded 65 PhDs to minorities, 46 (70%) of which went to Hispanics.
