Louis Stokes Alliance for minority participation (lsamp)
Indiana Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (Indiana LSAMP) is a regional alliance comprised of Ball State University, Indiana State University, Indiana University-Bloomington, Indiana University Northwest, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Purdue University – Calumet, Purdue University – North Central, and Purdue University - West Lafayette.
Research shows that Indiana's minority population is dramatically increasing. This expansion demonstrates the continuous need for this growing minority population to have access and support in higher education to meet the demand for academic and corporation science/research professionals. The goal of Indiana LSAMP is to increase the number of underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by at least 100% within a five-year period. In order to reach this goal, we have three objectives:
• to recruit underrepresented students to pursue science or engineering as a career
• to improve the quality of the learning environment for underrepresented STEM students
• to ensure that a larger number of undergraduates are prepared to enter graduate programs.
LSAMP Participants
Participants in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation at Indiana University-Bloomington are placed in four categories: general participants, mentors, tutors, and research participants.
General participants are students receiving any benefits that are offered by the IUB LSAMP, including workshops, conferences, etc. Mentors are those students who have successfully completed a mentor-training program and are able to provide skills in goal setting and time management in addition to general guidance to first year STEM (science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics) majors. Tutors assist students having academic difficulties in STEM courses. Research participants are those who perform independent scientific research with the assistance of an IUB faculty mentor.
LSAMP Programs
The Hudson & Holland Scholars Programs, the primary organization responsible for implementing the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program at Indiana University-Bloomington (IUB), provides support for LSAMP participants at the following levels:
The Student Transition and Academic Research (STAR) Programs are designed to engage undergraduates in career enriching experiences to increase their interest and solidify their commitment to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (STEM) disciplines. The ultimate goal of our program is to assure that the students are engaged in the following:
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Mentoring – All LSAMP participants are academically and professionally advised by faculty, graduate student and peer mentors during their undergraduate years at IUB. Peer mentoring is established through relationships between freshmen and sophomore participants. Graduate student and faculty mentor introduce students to research, career, and professional opportunities in SMET areas.
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Research– LSAMP participants interested in performing independent scientific research are given the opportunity to work with an IUB faculty member during the summer and/or academic semester(s) through LSAMP funds.
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Conference - Research participants attend the annual LSAMP Indiana Research and Alliance Enrichment Conference and present their summer research discoveries to peers from universities across the state while also networking with graduate schools and industry professionals.
The supplemental instruction program offers participants the chance to lead and participate in review and study-skill sessions. At IUB, students have access to tutoring services to assist in core “gatekeeper” courses that historically weed out students and selected advanced courses with the goal of raising grade point averages and improving retention.
The coordination and development programs involve attendance at scientific workshops and conferences locally, statewide, and nationally. By sharing data and experiences, it is assumed that the faculty, graduate students, administrators, and LSAMP participants will help improve the direction of the program.
For more information contact:
Dan Woodside
Coordinator, LSAMP Bloomington
812.856.3107
dwoodsid@indiana.edu