Tufts Center for STEM Diversity
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Our work is to foster an inclusive science and engineering community that will not only attract more diverse students to the STEM disciplines, but will retain and graduate them in their STEM discipline of choice.
Tufts University
Established: 2008
http://stemdiversity.tufts.edu
Profile submitted by Darryl N. Williams
Vision and Goals
The Center for STEM Diversity (CSD) aims to serve Tufts University by coordinating the university's diversity efforts in science and engineering, as well as serving as an umbrella for student-led STEM organizations and societies. We value diversity and recognize the importance of having student, staff, and faculty that reflect the varied backgrounds and experiences that enhance and enrich the learning process. Without this diversity, the true meaning of the word University (unity + diversity) can never be fully realized.
Center/Program Structure
The Center for STEM Diversity (CSD) is an independent center that collaborates with other entities on campus to address issues related to diversity and inclusion in science and engineering for both undergraduate and graduate students. CSD is lead by a director, and has two FTE staff (a program manager and a program assistant). The director holds a secondary appointment as a faculty member within the School of Engineering, while the other two staff members are part of administration.
Description of Programming
The Center for STEM Diversity (CSD) facilitates three signature programs, the Bridge to Engineering Success at Tufts (BEST) Promoting Retention in Science and Engineering (PRiSE), and STEM Ambassadors. The BEST program was established in 2010 to recruit and retain more underrepresented students into the School of Engineering. The program is designed to give selected incoming freshman the opportunity to take core classes (Calculus and Physics) for credit during the summer before their freshman year and supports their matriculation into college through mentorship, tutoring, and academic advising across the four year experience. The PRiSE program spans across both the School of Engineering and the School of Arts and Sciences. It is less structured than BEST (without a summer component) and supports first generation high achieving, academically talented students throughout the four year experience with mentorship, tutoring, and academic advising. STEM Ambassadors is the newest program that connects undergraduate science and engineering students to middle and high schools throughout the greater Boston area.
Successes and Impacts
The BEST Program has graduate two cohorts of students with retention rates at 100%. Most students have secured full employment in industry, and one student successfully completed graduate school and is transitioning to full employment.The Center for STEM Diversity has also been successful in garnering financial support both internally and externally. Externally, CSD has received commitments totaling more than $1 million from generous alumni. We are actively seeking support from industry partners to continue our successful approach to recruiting and graduating diverse science and engineering talent.
Elements Contributing to Success
Tufts is a highly selective, research intensive university with a high regard for teaching. The school is student-centric and has increasingly developed more support for diversity in all facets of the college experience. Being apart of such a supportive campus helps the Center for STEM Diversity realize its mission. The School of Engineering, in particular, plays a key role in the success of the Center for STEM Diversity by providing both financial and structural support (space, staff, etc.). CSD also works closely with other units across the Tufts (e.g. Admissions, Academic Resource Center, Career Services) to provide the students we serve the best academic resources and learning environment.