The University of Texas System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP): A State Wide Initiative to Promote STEM Undergraduate Research Ariana Arciero-Pino Benjamin C. Flores Helmut Knaust The University of Texas at El Paso

National Science Foundation (NSF) funded since 1991 Named in honor of Congressman Louis Stokes 40 university alliances nationwide Overarching goal: increase the number of historically underrepresented minority (URM) students graduating with a STEM bachelor’s degree and transitioning into graduate programs The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Louis Stokes, J.D.

Started in The University of Texas System Alliance consists of Nine universities (UT Arlington, UT Austin, UT Brownsville, UT Dallas, UT El Paso, UT Pan American, UT Permian Basin, UT San Antonio, and UT Tyler), and Seven community colleges (El Paso CC, Howard College, Midland College, Odessa College, San Antonio College, Tarrant CC, Tyler CC) The UT System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)

Total enrollment: 214,861 students By ethnicity: The University of Texas System

Total UT System undergraduate STEM enrollment: URM enrollment (red) has increased from 32% to 40% of the total (blue) in a decade.

LSAMP Summer Undergraduate Research Program I Eight week program – either at the home campus or at another university of the Alliance Aimed primarily at Sophomores and Juniors Accompanied by a variety of professional development activities – Oral presentations – Poster presentations – Graduate School information

LSAMP Summer Undergraduate Research Program II Alliance-wide Student Conference in the Fall semester – Poster Sessions – Presentations – Prizes awarded to top research projects

LSAMP Summer Undergraduate Research Program III A total of 1565 students have had a Summer URE in the last 20 years – Almost all of the participants are underrepresented minority students or women. – Students from all STEM fields 242 of those have been supported in the last five years.

LSAMP Summer Undergraduate Research Program IV Organizational Set-up – 16 local program directors, on each participating campus. – Students apply system-wide in January. – Alliance-wide selection meeting in March – Students receive a stipend room and board travel reimbursement

LSAMP Summer Undergraduate Research Program V Main Challenge: Most students want to do research on their own campus – Already working in a laboratory – Already working with a local faculty member – Fear of the unknown – Encouragement by program directors (lower cost = more students participating)

Contact Info Helmut Knaust Department of Mathematical Sciences The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso TX