SHARE CSD: An undergraduate summer experience to increase diversity in the CSD research pipeline

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PROJECT SUMMARY One major challenge facing the field of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is its demographic homogeneity. This disparity is problematic both in clinical practice and in research. For researchers who are members of underrepresented minority groups (e.g., racial or ethnic minorities, individuals with a disability, individuals who are economically disadvantaged), the CSD-specific demographics are compounded with the challenges of being a minority in higher education, further isolating these individuals and raising barriers to success in the field. Having a diverse workforce is critical for a number of reasons, including ameliorating health disparities in research and treatment. The proposed research education program—Summer Health Academic Research Experience in Communication Sciences and Disorders (SHARE-CSD)—is a 6-week summer research experience for undergraduate students from backgrounds typically underrepresented in STEM and health fields. Program participants will engage in activities in three main areas: (i) research (depth and breadth components), (ii) academic and career preparation, and (iii) extensive mentoring from peers and faculty resulting in a robust social network. Social networks play an important role in the academic achievement of minoritized students, and in particular, networks that include other minoritized students can increase students’ sense of belonging. Taken together, these activities are expected to increase program participants’ academic and skills preparedness for research and clinical careers, and to support the diversity of the CSD pipeline. The program will undergo rigorous evaluation to assess its efficacy for program participants both short- and long-term.