Changing Minds:

Structural Components and Framework of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program &

Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

LaMont F. Toliver, DirectorMeyerhoff Scholars Program

Justine M. Johnson, Assistant DirectorMeyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program

• Program History

• Barriers of Success

• Structural Components

• Indicators of Success

• Conclusion

Outline

UMBC Profile• Midsize public university - Founded in 1966

11,650 students (9,406 U and 2,244 G)

• 35% minority enrollment(Black 14%, Asian 17%, Hispanic & Native American 4%)

• 1391 Freshmen SAT (top quartile)

• 41% of students in STEM fields

• Awarded 81 Ph.D’s in 2006

• What are we known for?

Meyerhoff Scholars Program• Founders and Purpose

• Milestones of 1989, 1991 and 1995

• …now open to all high-achieving high

school seniors who have an interest in pursuing doctoral study in the sciences or engineering, and who are interested in the advancement of minorities in the sciences and related fields.

• Growth in Numbers

07-08 Program Demographics

Applicants 612

Candidates 225

Offers 88

Yield 58

Avg. HS GPA 4.3

Avg. MSAT 723

African American

125 (56%)

Asian/Pacific Islander

44 (20%)

Caucasian 42 (19%)

Hispanic 19 (10%)

Native American 02 (1%)

Male 115 (52%)

Female 107 (48%)

Freshman Class Current Program Demographics

• Fear of disapproval or rejection by Peers• Perceived hostile or unsupportive

environment• Inadequate socialization to the attitudinal

and behavioral demands of the Academy• Specific gaps in knowledge and skill

development• Limited exposure to models of academic

excellence and scholarly practice• Overall low expectations• Financial aid

Barriers of Success

Structural Components

• Recruitment• Financial Aid• Summer Bridge Program• Tutoring• Summer Research Internships• Faculty Involvement and Commitment• Peer Study Groups• Program Values• Sense of Community• Personal Advisement & Counseling

Administrative Components

InstitutionalCommitment

InstitutionalCommitment

Financial AidFinancial Aid

RecruitmentRecruitment

Faculty/Staff Involvement

Faculty/Staff Involvement

Academic Components

Personal Advising/

Counseling

Personal Advising/

Counseling

Peer StudyGroups

Peer StudyGroups

Research Experience

Research Experience

Summer Bridge

Summer Bridge

Social Components

Summer Bridge

Summer Bridge

Senseof

Community

Senseof

Community

Program Values

Program Values

ParentalSupport

ParentalSupport

Indicators of SuccessM1 – M15

15

39

78

93

59

51

190

98

131

0 50 100 150 200

MD/PhD

PhD

MD

Masters

Employed

Completed Enrolled

Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program

The Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program

• Began in 1996 with an MBRS-IMSD grant from NIH with two students - one in Chemistry and one in Psychology

• There are currently 47 fellows in the program and 15 students have completed the Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D.

• … open to all who have an interest in

pursuing doctoral study in the biomedical or behavioral sciences, and who are interested in the advancement of minorities in the sciences and related fields.

• Retention rate of the program is 75%

Program Demographics

Number enrolled 11

Average GPA 3.5

Average GRE Math

609

Incoming Class Fall 2007

Ph.D’s Awarded by Program

Program Ph.D’s Awarded

Biological Science 3

Chemistry 4

Biochemistry 4

Psychology 3

Mechanical Eng. 1

Meyerhoff Graduate Structural Components

• Salary Support and Health Benefits• Summer Bridge Program• Tutoring• Monthly Research Meetings• Minority Speaker Series• Travel to National Conferences• Supply Funding for Mentor Labs• Annual Retreat• Sense of Community• Personal Advisement & Counseling• Support through Degree Completion

Administrative Components

DepartmentalCommitment

DepartmentalCommitment

Salary SupportSalary Support

RecruitmentRecruitment

Staff Involvement

Staff Involvement

Academic Component

Summer BridgeSummer Bridge

Peer Research Presentations

Peer Research Presentations

Research Presentations at

National Meetings

Research Presentations at

National Meetings

PersonalAdvising/

Counseling &Tutoring

PersonalAdvising/

Counseling &Tutoring

Social Component

SummerBridge

SummerBridge

Monthly Meetings

Monthly Meetings

Sense ofCommunity

Sense ofCommunity

Annual Retreat

Annual Retreat

Indicators of Success• Retention

• Academic Performance

• Impact on University

• Graduate Placement

• Graduate Program Completion

• Administrative Support

• Faculty/Departmental Involvement

• Bridge Program

• Sense of Community & Identity

• High Expectations

Conclusion

• Faculty have to care more than others is wise

• Administrators have to risk more than others think is safe

• University has to dare more than others think is practical

• Students have to dream more than others think is possible

Change Minds by. . .

Finally

Mr. T, Please change the MD number to 98. Mike 

“If It takes an entire Village. . .”

Social

Administrative

Academic

Acknowledgements

• Freeman Hrabowski, PhD • Robert and Jane Meyerhoff• Michael F. Summers, PhD• UMBC Community• Meyerhoff Program Staff• Meyerhoff Scholars & Fellows

Special thanks to National Human Genome Research Institute

Contact Information

• Meyerhoff Scholars ProgramLaMont F. Toliver

Toliver@umbc.eduwww.umbc.edu/meyerhoff

410.455.3139 office410.455.1281 fax

• Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows ProgramJustine M. Johnson or Michael F. Summers, Ph.D.j.johnson@umbc.edu or summers@hhmi.umbc.edu

www.umbc.edu/meyerhoff/Graduate410.455.3124 office410.455.1174 fax