This proposal addresses the national problem of under-representation of American Indians, Black Americans, Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans in science and engineering graduate programs. The project consists of a series of one-day conferences on graduate study in science and engineering for minority students, their counselors and graduate school recruiters. The conferences were held at nine sites: Boston, New York, Washington (DC), Seattle, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. Each conference was held on the campus of a GEM-member with the university serving as a co-sponsor. The goals of the conferences were: 1) to present accurate information on opportunities for minority syudents in graduate study in science and engineering; 2) to encourage undecided minority students to seriously consider graduate study; 3) to offer opportunities for dialogue between the students and minority men and women currently engaged in graduate study; and 4) to introduce students to the wide range of national financial support programs available for graduate study. Approximately 900 students and 100 counselors, recruiters, university faculty and representatives from related organizations (ETS, etc.) attended the conferences. A report of conference activities will be distributed to a variety of colleges and universities for use in future counseling and recruitment activities.
