Such attitude shifts are critical, says Raymond, because "a single sentence can change a student's life for better or for worse." Students at the symposia in fact shared some examples, of both types, from their own experiences. It can be disheartening, said one student, when a science professor asks a minority student, on the first day of class, "Are you on the football team?" Conversely, said another, it can be immensely encouraging to hear a faculty member ask, "How are you really doing in class?" or for the professor to take the time to urge a student to apply for a research position.

Seventy-six colleges and universities, serving an estimated 915,000 students, were involved in the symposia. Some came away ready to make changes. After participating in the Harvard symposium, Cornell University started its own Biology Scholars Program that is already serving 22 students from underrepresented groups—ethnic and cultural minorities, women, and financially and educationally disadvantaged students.

"When we went to the Harvard meeting, we knew we needed to address this, but we didn't know how to go about it," says Bonnie Comella, director of undergraduate biology advising at Cornell in Ithaca, New York. Participating in the meeting showed the Cornell team that many of their own obstacles to addressing diversity were simply perceived obstacles, and it improved communication between administrators, faculty, and students. "It forced our hand to really communicate with our students and ask them, 'What can we do to help you succeed?'"

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