UC Santa Cruz has secured funding to support 100 students in completing bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) through the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP)—a program that has helped more than 300 students from historically underrepresented backgrounds earn undergraduate STEM degrees from the university over the past two decades.
CAMP is a statewide initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which recently awarded $2.5 million to the University of California based on the program's effectiveness across UC's nine undergraduate campuses since it launched in 1991. Central UC data shows that STEM enrollment for underrepresented students in the UC system has increased by 580 percent since 1991, and the number of STEM degrees among underrepresented students increased by 960 percent.
During that same period, total enrollment in STEM fields grew 84 percent at UC, demonstrating the remarkable impact of tailored outreach and thoughtful retention support provided to students in CAMP programs, according to a September 10 announcement from the University of California Office of the President.
CAMP's goal is to diversify the pipeline of students entering graduate school and the professoriate in STEM-related fields. At UC Santa Cruz, nearly half of the more than 300 students who earned bachelor's degrees in STEM have matriculated into graduate programs, 9% into professional schools and post-baccalaureate programs, and 42% have entered the STEM workforce, according Yulianna Ortega, director of STEM diversity research programs for the university.
"Since 2005, I have worked with the CAMP NSF Louis Stokes UC Alliance under the STEM Diversity office, supporting over 300 students in achieving their bachelor's degrees in STEM," Ortega said. "With a new five-year award, we are excited to empower 100 more scholars to reach their educational and professional dreams, fostering future leaders who will make a difference across the nation."
The new funding to continue CAMP at UC Santa Cruz amounts to $390,000. Students in the program receive a $3,000 stipend during the summer when participating in summer research on campus, $1,000 per quarter during the academic year, plus travel funds for one national or scientific conference per year. They also receive tutoring, professional-development workshops, and holistic mentoring from STEM Diversity staff.
“My favorite part of this program is our January symposium,” said chemistry and biochemistry professor Ted Holman, faculty director of UC Santa Cruz's CAMP program since 2010. “It is absolutely wonderful hearing the science of our young scholars and experiencing their enthusiasm first hand. It reminds me of when I was just starting out.”
Across the UC system, the NSF grant will fund the continuation of summer research scholarships, GRE preparation courses, faculty mentorship, and other successful practices. “More students earn advanced degrees at UC than at any other university in California, putting us in a prime position to help ensure that graduate students and faculty better reflect the diversity of our state,” said Yvette Gullatt, UC’s vice president for Graduate and Undergraduate Affairs and the vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
The statewide initiative is formally known as the California Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—named after the first Black member of Congress from the state of Ohio and champion of education equity. The lead campus for CAMP is UC Irvine.
