If America is to prosper in the new millennium, we must build a domestic science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) workforce that uses the talent of all segments of our population. America's prosperity is fueled by the nation's technical enterprise. As evidenced by the tragic episode of September 11, our country must build on the diversity within this country so that an increasingly large share of the work force will consist of women and underrepresented minorities.
Many national programs have been identified to enhance the quantity and quality of underrepresented minorities in science and engineering. This proposal describes a program designed to improve the quantity and quality of underrepresented scientists and engineers graduating each year with a bachelor's degree. The partners in the proposed alliance are all from the state of Tennessee. The existing knowledge base relative to minority participation in science and engineering will be the foundation of our efforts. The goal is to build on this foundation and to expand the available options to enrich programs at partner institutions and beyond.
Tennessee State University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and Vanderbilt University will partner to form the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP). The ultimate success of this collaboration rests in the fact that if there is any student's need, there is an institution within the alliance with the characteristics, experience, and/or resources to meet the needs of the student. The alliance can draw on the strengths and experiences of each of the individual members. The goal of the TLSAMP is to increase the number of the underrepresented SMET students by at least 75% at the end of the five-year period. The objectives to support the goal of the alliance are: 1) to recruit underrepresented students to pursue science or engineering as a career, 2) to improve the quality of the learning environment for underrepresented science and engineering students at all schools, and 3) to ensure that a larger number of undergraduate students are prepared to enter graduate programs.
The Alliance will emphasize collaborative learning approaches, mentoring activities via faculty, staff, and upper level students, and hands-on research and internship experiences. Using this approach, three project areas have been chosen as critical focal points for achieving the qualitative and quantitative goals of the project. These project areas utilize strategies with demonstrable effectiveness in the retention of underrepresented students in science and engineering. All project areas will involve faculty, staff, or students during the design phase as well as the continuous quality improvement phase.
In this project, assessment will be built into each project area as a result of the formulation of specific, measurable quantitative and qualitative objectives. These objectives will be reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis. An Advisory Committee composed of the Vice Presidents and Deans from the six schools will oversee all aspects of the grant project.
