School systems are encouraged to create partnerships with institutions of higher education, businesses, professional organizations, community-based organizations, and other educational organizations. This objective facilitates the long-term goal of increasing the production of Ph.D.s in SMET fields, with an emphasis on entry into faculty positions. The AMP Program requires the development of meaningful partnerships among academic institutions, government agencies and laboratories, industry, and professional organizations that will produce multidisciplinary or disciplinary approaches to achieving program goals at the undergraduate level. Success is measured by the ability to bring about significant, quantifiable, and qualitative enhancements in SMET participation. Eligibility Requirements for AMP Academic institutions that have a track record of producing minority and other students in SMET disciplines are eligible to apply to all programs under this initiative.
Nonprofit organizations serve as members of the alliance or partnership.
The lack of role models and mentors in the professoriate constitutes a significant barrier to producing minority SME graduates, and NSF is particularly interested in increasing the number of minorities who will enter the professoriate in these disciplines. To accomplish this objective, this effort reviews a portfolio of Federal and private efforts in this arena to identify factors underlying exemplary as well as unsuccessful efforts. The awardees serve as examples to their colleagues and national leaders in fully developing the Nation's human resources in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. These resources provide increased opportunities for minority faculty and students to engage in research. At the same time, the program enables these institutions to use their resources and research to increase the effectiveness of related SMET activities for other institutions in their regions.