| Title | The Spend a Summer with a scientist (SaS) program at Rice University: a study of program outcomes and essential elements for success. |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Year of Publication | 1998 |
| Authors | Alexander, B. B., Foertsch, J., Daffinrud S, Tapia R |
| Institution | The LEAD Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| City | Madison, WI |
| Keywords | CAREER, Diversity Institute Literature Review, Graduate school, Mentoring, Minorities, Retention, Undergraduate |
| Summary | The Spend a Summer with a scientist (SaS) program offers paid summer internships to underrepresented minority graduate and undergraduate students which include research experience with a mentor/advisor as well as mentoring experience with high school students. The program has been successful at both recruiting and retaining minority students in STEM fields. |
| Extended Summary | Alexander et al. argue that a critical disparity between minority and non-minority students in STEM disciplines occurs between graduating from college and enrolling in graduate school. The SaS program emphasizes a two pronged effort to overcome this disparity. The first effort is to provide undergraduates with research experience and mentoring opportunities in a community of underrepresented students. In addition, graduate students are given financial and social support to continue their studies.The program succeeds with undergraduates by giving students motivation who would have otherwise never even thought of themselves as “graduate school material.” It succeeded with graduate students by encouraging them to continue their efforts. Central to both successes was the role of the program director. With someone at the helm who had the influence of fellow faculty as well as institutional leverage, the program and its participants were seen as a legitimate part of the larger research community. Students were given the chance to form a mentored relationship with this individual, helping them to share this feeling of importance.The program focused students’ participation around research projects. These projects were integral to the success of the program because they allowed students to have meaningful experiences with faculty while working on real problems and being introduced to the world of academia. More generally, a sense of community was created between the students that allowed for them to share experience with students of similar backgrounds while having numerous opportunities to both mentor and be mentored. |
| Recommendations | Summer programs like SaS should be replicated to encourage minority students in STEM. The SaS program can serve as a guide of "what to aim for.” While programs may take several years to become successful, they are worth it. The most important factor is to have administrators who are patient and flexible. |
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