Success Story

The Meyerhoff Scholars Program is among the most successful undergraduate diversity programs in the nation. This University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) program was launched to support African-American men who had a strong interest in pursuing Ph.D.’s in science, engineering, and mathematics and medical degrees. While the first group of scholars included African-American men from Maryland, the program later expanded to include African-American women, other minorities, and white students from across the country.

"We learned to create a program in which African-Americans would not just be getting by in science, but would be the very best that you could find anywhere—in terms of research, excitement about science, grades, and test score," says Freeman Hrabowski, president of UMBC and co-founder of the program.

The Meyerhoff program sets high expectations for its scholars, but is designed to be nurturing and supportive. The program includes mentoring, training, academic and career advising, group study, and research opportunities. It begins with the Summer Bridge program to help transition students to college. This is the most critical aspect of the program, since it introduces intense learning while simultaneously teaching students how to study and manage their time. Academic counseling and advising is a constant during the students’ undergraduate years; students are encouraged to take advantage of tutors and study groups. Additionally, the program provides faculty mentors as well as professional and research mentors. Because the university believes that research experiences will keep students fully engaged, Meyerhoff Scholars participate in research projects on campus and summer projects in top research laboratories off campus.

Michael Summers, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and director of the Meyerhoff Graduate Program, credits President Hrabowski, who himself is African-American, with the successful implantation of the Meyerhoff Program and says that the faculty has embraced the president and goals of the Meyerhoff Program. "I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm that the faculty has shown to expand on what the president has done by developing new grassroots programs in many different departments that do similar things. Dr. Hrabowski is an example of how one person with a vision and a lot of energy can change the way departments view education and treat their students."

Today at UMBC, underrepresented minority students are succeeding. The program was established in 1989, and the first Meyerhoff Scholars completed their undergraduate degrees in 1993. The program currently enrolls 251 undergraduates (fall 2004) and the program’s overall retention rare in science, engineering, and mathematics is greater than 95 percent. Of the program’s 372 graduates, over 80 percent have gone to graduate and professional school at some of the finest institutions—specifically, 138 students have gone on to Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D.s, and the program estimates that between 6 and 10 Meyerhoff students will complete Ph.D. studies annually. In addition, approximately 50 Meyerhoff graduates have completed MDs, and dozens have completed masters degrees in engineering and computer science.

UMBC partners with schools to build skills of the region’s students through math and science upward bound programs and through active tutoring programs and through active tutoring programs with Meyerhoff Scholars. UMBC representatives proactively search the inner city and surrounding areas to identify students who are doing exceptionally well in science. In addition, professors start recruiting early by meeting with high school juniors and their parents to introduce them to the Meyerhoff Program.

The Summer Bridge Program enables students to experience the rigors of university instruction and testing, while earning seven credits before their freshman year begins. The students are in class 21 hours a week during this 6-week program, taking courses in African-American studies, pre-calculus or calculus, chemistry, and physics. Students build relationships with each other, program staff, and faculty, while learning the importance of strong study habits, group study, and useful time management skills.

Academic counseling and advising is available during the students’ undergraduate years, but most especially during freshman year when students are monitored on a weekly basis. Students who may be struggling academically are paired with a tutor, and all students are encouraged to participate in study groups for additional support. Extensive mentoring is provided to students from faculty, minority business leaders, and researchers from the local region.

Meyerhoff scholars also participate in research projects on campus and summer research experiences at a research laboratory or company. Finally, UMBC provides financial support for room and board, tuition and fees, and book allowances.

The primary goal of the program is to increase the number of talented minority students who earn Ph.D.’s of degrees in math, science, or engineering fields. In addition to academic and research experiences, UMBC invites students to present their research at conferences. Once students earn their bachelor’s degree, the school remains in contact with them throughout their graduate studies to assist them as they make important career choices upon completion of the Ph.D. Students understand the critical need for minorities to take leadership roles in academia and give serious consideration to faculty positions. In addition, industry representatives are often interested in recruiting Meyerhoff students.

A longitudinal evaluation was established in 1989 to measure the effectiveness of the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program. Short-term (undergrad GPA and retention in science) and longer-term (graduate school entry and longer-term (graduate school entry and completion; careers in science) educational outcomes for students who entered the Meyerhoff Program from 1989 to the present are compared to a sample of students who were accepted into the program but declined. This study has demonstrated that Meyerhoff Scholars complete bachelor’s degrees in science, engineering, and math disciplines at a rate higher than those students who declines admission to the program and matriculate to graduate programs in these disciplines at a higher rate.

A process evaluation has also been established to better understand the Meyerhoff Program components that appear most important in contributing to student success. Additional evaluation is being initiated to understand the career choices of minority students, with a special emphasis on factors that affect career choices of Meyerhoff Scholars in Ph.D. programs.