Program supports minority women in their quest for science and engineering degrees
The UA and PCC have been awarded an $897,000 grant by the National Science Foundation for a project aimed at increasing the enrollment, retention and graduation rates of female minority students.
The project, known as Futurebound, is directed toward women who begin studying at Pima Community College and transfer to the University of Arizona to finish their degrees.
"We are hoping to increase the numbers of women, especially women of color, in engineering, science and relating fields, who transfer to the University of Arizona to continue studies," said Maria Reyes, associate director of Futurebound and the co-principle investigator on the NSF Grant. Reyes also works for the UA Southwest Institute for Research on Women,
Through the program, during their study at PCC, students will attend career seminars, take a research methods course and meet regularly with advisers. These activities will help students adjust to changes once they have transferred to UA.
Once the students transfer to UA, they can continue their education by participating in research experiences along with their regular academic course load. They also participate in a year-long internship with a stipend through the program.
Anne Christensen, division dean of math, science and technology at Pima Community College West campus and consultant for the Futurebound program, said there are additional opportunities available for Futurebound students, aside from their academic course load and internships.
"We have what are known as 'bridging grants,' where the money is used to allow students research opportunities during the summer," she said. "These help to ease the transition from PCC to the UA."
Students also develop skills that enable them to be more active participants in similar groups already existing on the UA campus, such as Women in Science and Engineering.
Reyes said the program is at "ground level at this point." She added that the program hopes to enroll 45 students its first semester in fall 2002. She said she hopes to enroll the same amount for the fall 2003 semester. The program would also include the participation of more than 40 faculty members in its first three years.
"(PCC is) the pool from which student participants are recruited," Christensen said.
Reyes is currently in the process of taking calls from prospective students, setting up recruitment materials and developing an application and committee to review applications.
"So far, we have had excellent cooperation and coordination with the Pima Community College people," she said.
Reyes said there is a great need for a program similar to this at UA and within the Tucson community. Women minority students made up 18 percent of the UA science and engineering majors in the year 2000. Futurebound coordinators conclude that this low figure is a reason to pay special attention to this group.
The grant was awarded on Nov. 1.
Interested students can download Futurebound applications at the Web site, http://w3.arizona.edu/~ws/futurebound/index.html.
