AGEP PROJECT
PROFILE INFORMATION: Michigan Alliance
PI: Earl LewisDean, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies 916 East Washington, Room 1004 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1004 (734) 764-4401 |
Program Coordinator / Director: Christophe Pierre Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies The University of Michigan 915 E. Washington St. Ann Arbor, MI
48109-1070 Phone: 734-764-8221 Fax: 734-763-2447 |
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Preferred day-to-day contact person: Robin Rennie Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies The University of Michigan 915 E. Washington St. Ann Arbor, MI
48109-1070 Phone: 734-647-5767 Fax: 734-763-2447 |
Primary Partners: The University of Michigan |
Disciplines
/ departments:
Website address: http:/www.Rackham.umich.edu/fellowships/nsf/index.html
Impact nugget:
The University of Michigan, an AGEP school since 1998, is firmly committed to the principles espoused by the AGEP program. We credit our AGEP participation with significant increases in the enrollment and retention of under-represented students. Since 1997, in the hard sciences, we have seen a 56% increase in under-represented student enrollment compared to a 26% overall increase. In engineering, the news has been even better with an increase of 66% in under-represented student enrollment, with an overall enrollment increase of 26%. We are also very encouraged by the increase of continuing under-represented students. In the College of Engineering, we find that between 1998 and 2002, the number of continuing female students has increased by 37% and the number of continuing ethnic minority students has increased by 65%. A wide variety of programs and activities accounts for this success. We have formed collaborations with several schools to create “student pipelines” to increase the number of BS students who enter a Ph.D. program. Most recently, we have placed our emphasis on not only recruiting relationships but on developing research partnerships that will lead, in the long term, to increasing the number of students who seek the Ph.D., while enhancing their undergraduate and graduate research experiences. We participate in recruiting events though out the USA and Puerto Rico. Highly successful programs on our campus introduce prospective students to Michigan, allowing them to experience both the academic and social side of our graduate life. Over 50% of the students who attended our annual IMPACT recruiting weekend, in the last three years, have enrolled in our graduate programs. A Summer Research Opportunity Program brings students to campus to work with faculty on research while participating in a series of workshops, including a GRE prep course, to encourage graduate school enrollment. The Rackham Summer Institute brings enrolling students to campus the summer before their studies start, to give them both a head start on research and academics while acclimating the students to our campus. Workshop participation, a teaching requirement for all fellowship students, and mentoring, all help students prepare for the professoriate, and encourages them to seriously pursue academic careers. Our fellowship program is a vital key to the success of our students. Our careful use of evaluative techniques has allowed us to monitor this program and revamp it as needed to create a fellowship program that provides financial support while reinforcing academic goals.
Statement:
The University of Michigan looks forward to expanded partnership opportunities and continued growth of our efforts to recruit and retain students who are our county’s future faculty. By capitalizing on proven programming, using evaluative techniques to assess and improve our efforts and both sharing and learning with partners, we look forward to continuing to increase the successful participation of under-represented students in STEM disciplines.