PUMP: Preparing Undergraduates through Mentoring toward Ph.D.s

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PUMP: Preparing Undergraduates through Mentoring toward Ph.D.sThis project focuses on increasing the participation of highlyqualified underrepresented minority students from our region(San Fernando Valley, Ca.) in Mathematical Sciences Ph.D.programs. This will be done by addressing two transitionpoints in the academic life of those students. One is thetemporal transition from high-school to college to Ph.Dprograms, the other is the intellectual transitionfrom general course work to independent work and research.Built upon three cornerstones: aggressive recruitment, strongmentoring, and continuous assessment, this project willidentify and prepare talented and motivated high-school andundergraduate students to succeed in mathematical sciencescareers through a series of high-quality, personalizedactivities. These include summer institutes, weeklyseminars, honors Calculus for high-school students, advancedmathematics course work and undergraduate research projectsfor math majors, and problem-solving sessions. With theseactivities and under the guidance of the faculty involved inthis project, students willacquire the maturity needed forinitiation to mathematical discovery,and will also broaden their vision of mathematics.By identifying talented and highly motivated students fromminority groups, by addressing critical issues in their livesand choices, and by providing a solid mathematical educationto them, this project will make a significant contribution toincreasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of theMathematical Sciences workforce. The resultingincrease in numbers and quality of minority students from ourregion (particularly Hispanic/Latino students) entering Ph.D.math programs will do much to lift other students' aspirationsand encourage them to pursue careers in Mathematics or with aheavy mathematical component. This change will positivelyimpact the quality of mathematical education offered in theirhigh schools and in our institution's (CSUN) undergraduateprogram. In particular, this project will alter theintellectual atmosphere among faculty and students in theinstitutions involved and will have beneficialrepercussions beyond the time-frame covered by the project itself.