CAMP Program Overview

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

California Alliance Phase IV: 2006-2011
The Louis Stokes California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) is a prime University of California initiative to diversify the student population and the future faculty. UC Irvine serves as the lead campus and fiscal agent, under the established cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. The primary goal of the eight UC campus partners (Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Diego and Riverside) is to significantly increase the number of B.S. degrees granted to underrepresented minority students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) majors at the University of California and to prepare these students competitively for the nation's top graduate schools. This is accomplished through shared best practices (550kb pdf), networking, academic support, and a welcoming campus climate. CAMP represents a systemwide community of UC faculty, program staff, and students working toward a set of shared goals, including not only B.S. degree completion but continuation on to graduate school, completion of the Ph.D., and entry into the scientific and engineering workplace. This collective effort has contributed to a 84% increase in B.S. degrees granted by UC from the baseline year (1990-91), for a total of 12,396 bachelor's degrees awarded to date to underrepresented minorities by UC. In addition to faculty mentored research experiences and peer mentoring and tutoring, principal activities include collaborative learning, presenting at scientific conferences, science writing and co-authorship, technology proficiency, and preparation for advanced degrees. Graduate education is currently supported by the Bridge to the Doctorate, hosted by UC partners. To date, graduate cohorts at UCLA, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and the current host UC Davis, total 46 graduate students.

The “Bridge to the Doctorate” Activity
The NSF Directorate for Education and Human Resources through the Division of Human Resource Development first awarded funding in 2003 for the first cohort of graduate students in the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) supplemental activity, “Bridge to the Doctorate.” Funding supports the long-term goal of increasing the number of students who earn doctorates in STEM fields, particularly those from populations underrepresented in these fields. CAMP-BD supports graduate students at UCLA, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and currently at UC Davis.

WAYS CAMP SUPPORTS UNDERGRADS

Faculty mentoring
Peer mentoring and tutoring
Laboratory research experiences
Peer facilitated core course workshops
Annual undergraduate research symposium
K-12 science and math teacher opportunities
California community college transfer support
Synergy with affiliated programs having similar goals
Graduate school preparation including GRE practice exam

Faculty mentors attest that creative research is one of the highest academic goals undergraduates can attain. Engagement in laboratory research is also one of the best ways to prepare them for success in graduate education. CAMP programmatic efforts affirm that future scientists are best developed by scientists who exhibit and expect scholarly excellence.

Founded in 1991, CAMP is dedicated to UC undergraduate achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The California Alliance for Minority Participation in Science, Engineering and Mathematics is supported in part through a cooperative agreement between the University of California, Irvine, and the National Science Foundation. CAMP is among 37 Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation. With appreciation to the National Science Foundation for continued support.

11/17/09