CHROME (Cooperating Hampton Roads Organizations for Minorities in Engineering), a collaborative partnership southeastern, Virginia, will operate three math and science Academies for African-American males. The goal of the Academies is to increase the pool of African-American males interested in and prepared for SMET careers. Specific objectives are to: (1) stimulate more positive attitudes toward and interest in math and science, (2) raise the level of awareness of SMET careers and interest students in SMET careers, (3) encourage students to complete high school, (4) prepare them to enroll and succeed in Algebra I and higher math and science courses, (5) develop understanding of the scientific process, and (6) improve communication skills. The Academies will be an integral part of a broad and remarkably effective regional initiative which has been promoting minority and female participation in SMET for eleven years through CHROME. Students will receive extensive and continuing enrichment and support through high school via the very effective network of school-based CHROME clubs as well as Academy follow-up programs. The nurturing environment, team structure and many group activities will help solidify a supportive and enduring peer group. Each student will have a mentor, one of many local African-American in SMET careers, who will take a personal interest in and encourage the student, discuss career interests and paths, and provide ongoing support. Students also will be exposed to role models of minorities in math and science in the university faculty and students, work site contacts, and guest speakers. A total of 75 rising 7th and 8th grade African-American males will be served at three sites, sponsored by partner universities: Hampton University, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University. The partners offer both predominantly (or, in the case of ODU, significant) minority student populations and strong SMET research and degree programs. Students will be drawn primarily from four minority-majority urban school districts in Hampton Roads and selected for their interest in and need for the program. ***
