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HARVARD SYMPOSIUM:
Making the Grade—
Diversity Program Success Stories
Three speakers described programs that have succeeded in increasing the numbers of underrepresented minority (URM) students excelling in the sciences. The programs have some similarities, such as offering summer bridge programs to help prepare incoming freshmen and creating a supportive community of scholars. But they have important differences, too, particularly in the groups of students they serve. From their measures of success—most importantly, the numbers of students graduating with science degrees and advancing to graduate school—all these programs contain valuable lessons that can, at least in part, be translated to other institutions.
The Meyerhoff Scholarship Program
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Established in 1988 by a $522,000 endowment from Baltimore philanthropists Robert and Jane Meyerhoff, this program is considered to be the gold standard of diversity honors programs. More
LA-STEM Research Scholars and HHMI Undergraduate Mentors
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (LSU), offers two programs for underrepresented minority (URM) students seeking science degrees—one for high achievers and one for those who are struggling. More
Biology Scholars Program
University of California, Berkeley
The Biology Scholars Program (BSP) at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, aims to help biology majors acquire the tools for academic and future career success. More
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