Enhancing underrepresented student opportunities through faculty mentoring and peer interactions

During the past seven years, an alliance of colleges and universities has been committed to increasing the number of African American, American Indian, and Hispanic bachelor degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. This alliance, known as the Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities, has relied heavily on engaging students in academic and research activities outside the classroom involving science and engineering faculty and student peers in order to improve retention and increase graduation rates of underrepresented students. This paper presents the strategies for: engaging science and engineering faculty and students in these activities which depends upon inter-institutional cooperation; documentation of student information and student outcomes; and institutionalization of these activities through the use of the Internet and through faculty development.