Part One aculty members involved in programs to attract women and minorities to biology agree there is no magic strategy for success. But they point to several initiatives that, in combination, produce results. If colleges and universities want to achieve diverse student bodies, they cannot wait for high schools to produce a steady stream of qualified applicants. Rather than fighting over a small pool of students, colleges and universities have to help expand the pool.
Many programs aim young.
In fact, Carmichael would like to target even younger children, since many African American males already are turned off to science by junior high. Other institutions engage in outreach programs specifically tailored for the precollege students in their areas. Oklahoma State University in Stillwater organizes science day camps at elementary schools in Oklahoma, which is the home of more Native Americans than any other state in the nation. This program has made it possible to reach many more students and teachers than any other activity. Of course, not all students involved in a college-initiated outreach program will matriculate at that institution.