Meyerhoff project
By: kaylee chen
In the 21st century, low diversity in STEM fields has been recognized as a significant issue. As a result, people are working to raise awareness and encourage underrepresented students to pursue STEM degrees. One example, the Meyerhoff Scholars program, has already been successful in this endeavor and is an effective basis for other programs that will hopefully develop in the future. Founded in 1988 by Robert Meyerhoff and Freeman Hrabowski in Baltimore, Maryland, the program focuses on increasing minority representation in STEM programs at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County (UMBC). Its purpose is to provide financial assistance, mentoring, and research experience to African American undergraduate students committed to obtaining Ph.D. degrees in math, science, and engineering.
So what makes the Meyerhoff Program successful? According to The New York Times, the way it teaches its participants. Editorial observer Brent Staples stated, “Critics have sometimes accused the Meyerhoff program of cherry-picking bright students who would perform spectacularly well wherever they went to school. But… the school's instructional strategy makes a real difference.” Students are coached to sit in the front rows of their classes, ask challenging questions, and engage their professors inside and outside of classes, behavior that improves understanding in a classroom setting and leads to a higher chance of achievement. They live in residence halls, form study groups and are encouraged to work closely together and learn from one another. Furthermore, participants are recommended to volunteer in communities and work in laboratories both on- and off-campus, boosting their future STEM careers.
Over time, it is clear that these efforts truly do have an effect on the program’s participants. UMBC is currently the highest producer of black MD-Ph.D. recipients and the second-highest producer of black STEM-Ph.D. degree recipients, next to Howard University. UMBC conducted studies comparing Meyerhoff graduates to students who were accepted into the program but declined to participate, and they found that Meyerhoff scholars have, on average, a 0.25-point higher GPA on a 4.0 scale and are twice as likely to graduate with STEM degrees. According to data collected by the program, Meyerhoff students were also 5.3 times more likely to have participated in a STEM Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. program than students who declined to participate.
Aside from the numbers, the program has produced many notable alumni. No matter where they wound up, their background with the Meyerhoff program offered both a supportive community and the necessary knowledge and opportunities to begin their careers. Jerome Adams, the 20th surgeon general of the United States and a Meyerhoff alumni, stated in an interview with UMBC that “... I still stay in touch with many of my Meyerhoff colleagues and rely on them as a professional support network.” Another alum, Isaac Kinde, is the chief scientific officer at PapGene, Inc., which sells molecular tests used to detect cancer in its early stages. In an interview with 60second Recap, an educational video program, Kinde admitted that "When I went to college, I had no idea I'd do research…” He ended up turning down Stanford for the Meyerhoff program that UMBC offered--by attending, he realized his passion for STEM.
In his words, it provided “a close-knit community, amazing support, opportunities for collaboration.” These two alumni, as well as many more successful Meyerhoff graduates, demonstrate how crucial a close community and beneficial opportunities are to a successful future for those who are underrepresented.
This evidence is significant because it supports Robert Meyerhoff initial goal. In many cases, there is little diversity in STEM careers because applicants are considered incompetent due to race or gender. Meyerhoff served in the segregated Navy during World War II and witnessed heavy discrimination there. He created the program to show that with a level playing field, African Americans could perform as well as anyone else. Based on the results of the Meyerhoff program, it is clear that when all students are given adequate resources and opportunities, race is not an issue.
Although some argue that the Meyerhoff program cannot be replicated in other schools, the Millennium Scholars program at Penn State University (est. 2013) and the Chancellor’s Science Scholars program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (est. 2013) are similar to the Meyerhoff program and are both successful in their endeavors to increase diversity. The programs were closely modeled after Meyerhoff in the scholarships and activities provided, research labs and internships available, academic counseling and mentoring, and program evaluations, among other aspects. As of right now, participation, increases in GPA, and STEM graduation rates in both programs exceed those of the Meyerhoff program. Participants had GPAs about 0.3 points higher than non-participants and were 20% more likely to stay in their STEM majors. Besides proving that the Meyerhoff model is applicable to other universities and beneficial overall, it shows how important examples like the Meyerhoff program are in expanding inclusivity in STEM.
Low diversity in STEM is an issue that is far from resolved. However, with the help of programs like the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, the Millennium Scholars Program, and Chancellor’s Science Scholars, the process can be expedited. It has already been shown that greater diversity is achievable, but success requires opportunities for those that normally do not get them. During a 30th anniversary celebration of the Meyerhoff Program’s establishment, alumni Felicia Sanders confirmed: “‘Sometimes you don’t understand legacy until you see the fruit of it… If someone hadn’t given [this] to us,” she asks, “where would we be?’”