HOME HELP FEEDBACK ARCHIVE SEARCH SEARCH RESULT		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit Reader Comments Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Reader Comments are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Sign up for eTOCs Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Matsui, J. Articles by Kane, C. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Matsui, J. Articles by Kane, C. M.

Evaluating a Science Diversity Program at UC Berkeley: More Questions Than Answers

Biology Scholars Program, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, 2075 Valley Life Sciences Building, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-3200

^* Corresponding author. E-mail address: matsui{at}uclink4.berkeley.edu.

For the past three decades, much attention has been focused on developing diversity programs designed to improve the academic success of underrepresented minorities, primarily in mathematics, science, and engineering. However, ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in science majors and careers. Over the last 10 years, the Biology Scholars Program (BSP), a diversity program at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, has worked to increase the participation and success of students majoring in the biological sciences. A quantitative comparison of students in and out of the program indicates that students in BSP graduate with a degree in biology at significantly higher rates than students not in BSP regardless of race/ethnicity. Furthermore, students who are in BSP have statistically lower high school grade point averages (GPAs) and Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) scores than students not in BSP. African-American and Hispanic students who join BSP graduate with significantly higher UC Berkeley biology GPAs than non-BSP African-American and Hispanic students, respectively. Majority (Asian and White) students in BSP graduate with statistically similar UC GPAs despite having lower SAT scores than non-BSP majority students. Although BSP students are more successful in completing a biology degree than non-program members, the results raise a series of questions about why the program works and for whom.

Key Words: science diversity program • University of California • Berkeley • Biology Scholars Program • minority students • grade point average • Scholastic Achievement Test

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Dirks and M. Cunningham Enhancing Diversity in Science: Is Teaching Science Process Skills the Answer? CBE Life Sci Educ, September 1, 2006; 5(3): 218 - 226. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]