The Center for Analysis of Structures and Interfaces (CASI), a Minority Research Center of Excellence (MRCE) at City College of The City University of New York, proposes to increase the number of minority undergraduate students receiving research training and exposure in its focus areas of research. Avenues for enhancement of undergraduate participation include (1): placement in associate laboratories with research activities close to that conducted by CASI. In these laboratories, as well as CASI laboratories, undergraduate students will be provided stipends and a modest supply budget; (2) development of a summer enrichment program for entering freshmen to promote successful launching of their college lives, thus aiding retention. The summer enrichment program would have a component activity aimed at aiding students to assess career goals, and would provide a modest stipend to participants. For graduate student participation, the Center proposes to increase the number of minority Ph.D. students it supports by six (for a total of eight) to allow CASI to match support with the actual number of minority graduate students presently involved in its laboratories.
