Background

These three symposia were inspired by a panel discussion at the October 2004 Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Program Directors/Professors meeting in Washington, D.C. A group of 18 collaborators developed a mini-grant proposal, “Seeding Commitments to Diversity: Disseminating Effective Mentoring and Retention Programs”, which garnered financial support from HHMI, NIH, Harvard University, University of Louisiana at Monroe, and University of Washington. The executive summary of our grant proposal and list of collaborators follows.

Executive Summary

Several institutions in the U.S. have developed highly successful programs for mentoring underrepresented science students. To disseminate information about these programs to institutions that are primed for change, we seek funding to support three symposia, one each at Harvard University, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and the University of Washington, that will bring together administrators, faculty, and students from institutions committed to supporting diversity among undergraduate and graduate science students. We aim to promote institutional change across a broad spectrum of institutions, including research I universities, regional universities, and liberal arts colleges. We believe that “taking the show on the road” to disseminate the expertise and successes of several universities will galvanize action at institutions that are ready to adopt new approaches to increase diversity in their graduate and/or undergraduate programs. Moving the conversation away from the home sites of central funding agencies (HHMI, NSF, NIH), where such discussions are often restricted to those already committed to increasing diversity, is a new approach aimed at reaching a broader array of participants.

Each symposium will have roughly the same format, with (1) presentations by leaders from the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Louisiana State University, and (2) break-out sessions to catalyze development of institution-specific action plans. Institutions with HHMI programs or professors and other nearby institutions will be invited to participate. Prior to arrival, each participating team must submit relevant institutional data on underrepresented minority participation in undergraduate science programs, establish its own definitions of “success” for mentoring and retention programs, and articulate a set of goals aimed at achieving success. This prior work is designed to ensure that institution-specific action plans, developed at and following the symposia, emanate from an informed consideration of current practices.

The proposed symposia will result in two tangible products: a national consortium of colleges and universities dedicated to promoting diversity in the sciences, and a web site that provides a repository of relevant data, a summary of initiatives emanating from our symposia, and a central hub for academic and federal sites that support diversity efforts in the sciences.

Significant non-HHMI funding has been secured to support this effort, with $50,000 from the National Institutes of Health, $50,000 from Harvard University, $10,000 from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and $25,000 from the University of Washington for a total of $185,000 in funding for the three symposia. More than half of the combined funds will pay for travel awards to participating institutional teams.

Co-Program Directors:

Wendy Raymond, Williams College
([email protected])

Robert Lue, Harvard University
([email protected])

Collaborators:

David Ratner, Amherst College
([email protected])

Elizabeth Tobin, Bates College
([email protected])

Patsy Dickinson, Bowdoin College
([email protected])

Pat Marsteller, Emory University
([email protected])

Robert Fairman, Haverford College
([email protected])

Christopher Barney, Hope College
([email protected])

Jeff Bartz, Kalamazoo College
([email protected])

Isiah Warner, Louisiana State University
([email protected])

Craig Woodard, Mount Holyoke College
([email protected])

Bruce Telzer, Pomona College
([email protected])

Ann Findley, University of Louisiana at Monroe
([email protected])

Michael Summers, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
([email protected])

Barbara Wakimoto, University of Washington
([email protected])

Nancy Kolodny, Wellesley College
([email protected])

Michael Weir, Wesleyan University
([email protected])

Tuajuanda Jordan, Xavier University of Louisiana
([email protected])