RCMS: RESEARCH CAREERS FOR MINORITY SCHOLARS AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

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9450300 Watson Research Careers for Minority Scholarsat Texas A&M University The primary focus of the Research Careers for Minority Scholars (RCMS) Program at Texas A&M University (TAMU) is to increase the number of minority students in science, engineering and math (SEM) and in the social and behavioral sciences (SBS) disciplines who graduate at the B.S. level with strong, comprehensive research experience and enter graduate programs leading to careers in academic, government or industry. Far too few minorities attend graduate school in most fields, but especially in SEM fields. National data shows that approximately 20% of SEM students attend graduate school immediately following the reception of their Bachelor Degree each year, but because minority enrollments in graduate school are so low we would like to at least double that percentage. The proposed five-year funding will support 70 RCMS students, 60 will be supported in the SEM disciplines and 10 in the NSF supported SBS disciplines. Participants in the RCMS program at TAMU are selected from undergraduate under-represented minority students at Texas A&M University who have a GPA of 3.0 or greater. Half of the students in the program over the past five years have been minority women. Junior and Senior students are actively involved in research projects with faculty mentors. They also service as role models through their involvement in RCMS outreach activities to public schools with high minority enrollments. Freshmen and sophomore participants attend a variety of seminars designed to introduce them to the research opportunities available nationally and at TAMU. These seminars are hosted by faculty research mentors, senior minority scholars, representatives from other research institutions, and professional from private sectors. Other core activities of the RCMS program include participation in faculty mentorship, presentations at the RCMS/AMP Research Symposium. special Research Problem Courses, AS URT ( A Seminar in University Research and Teaching), RCMS Meetings (GRE Preparations, Summer Internships, Fellowships), RCMS/AMP Student Teaming in Research, and Ph.D. Pipeline Bridging. TEES will be matching funds with PI, Co-PI, Graduate Student and program Coordinator salaries and fringe benefits. TEES will also match 45% of the modified total direct cost. We propose to get more undergraduate who are under-represented minorities to graduate with a B.S. and enter graduate school in one of the SEM/SBS disciplines. This RCMS program will be a continuation of a five year program that was implemented in 1989. 130 students participated in that program and 52% have graduated with a B.S. with 44% of them currently enrolled in a graduate program and 13% are currently working on a Ph.D. Participants will present their research project findings at a conference/symposium to faculty, administrators, industry supports and program directors. The program coordinator and PI's will also present the RCMS program at conferences such as ASEE, NAMEPA.