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Research Experiences program for Undergraduates in an Historically Black college and University.

Gbekeloluwa B. Oguntimein1 , Pamela Leigh-Mack2 , Bert Davy1 .and John Wheatland 3 1 Department of Civil Engineering and 2 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 3 Dean’s Office, School of Engineering, Morgan State University, Baltimore Maryland.

Abstract

Involving undergraduate students in research has been recognized as a method of developing the intellectual capacity of undergraduate student. This paper reports operation, achievements and challenges of a Science Engineering and Mathematics (SEM) Summer Research Training program, which has been in operation for over seven years at Morgan State University. The objective of this program are to (a) increase the number of students who participate in undergraduate research; (b) enhance student’s learning and commitment to their studies; (c) increase the number of students attending graduate schools; (d) and provide students with professional development training. Two hundred and thirty eight (238) students have participated in the program since its inception. Out of the ninety-two participants since 1999 over 18% have gone on to graduate school.

Introduction

National concern have been expressed about the status of the U. S. science and engineering base-specifically the human talent, knowledge and infrastructure that generate innovations and under gird technological advances to achieve national objectives. Analyses have shown that there may be a significant shortage in the entry- level science and engineering labor pool, and that scientific and technical fields could be significantly affected. Demographic data show a future with proportionately fewer young people and a work force comprised of growing numbers of minorities and the economically disadvantaged. These groups, which the economy must increasingly rely, have been historically underrepresented in science, engineering and related fields. The added dimension of a projected shortage of qualified science and mathematics instructors at the pre-college and undergraduate levels could have serious consequences for the nation’s scientific and technological literacy and, therefore for our capabilities to compete economically with other industrialized counties 1 . In 1990 less than 2% of the Science Engineering and Mathematics (SEM) workforce hailed from the African-American community. While African-Americans Hispanic/Latinos and American Indians comprise 23% of the U.S. population, they make up only 4.5% of those holding scientific doctorates 2 . In a report to the Maryland Higher Education Commission in March 1992, the Task force on Engineering Education wrote, “The representation of Africa-American almost disappears at the graduate level, with only 3% of all Maryland master’s degrees granted in 1990 going to African-Americans. There are no doctorates awarded to African-Americans” 3 .

“Proceedings of the 2004 American Society for engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright© 2004, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Oguntimein, G. (2004, June), Research Experiences Program For Undergraduates At Morgan State University Paper presented at 2004 Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--12957