Prepared Remarks of IU President Adam W. Herbert, STEM Initiative Press Conference
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Welcome to the IUPUI campus this morning for a very important announcement. I am especially pleased that several of our partners have joined me to share
with you and the nation some very exciting information.
As a public research institution, Indiana University takes very seriously its long-standing commitment to diversity and to the enhancement of educational
opportunity, irrespective of income, race, religion, gender or other personal characteristics.
As a public research institution, IU also takes seriously its obligation to conduct research that advances the frontiers of knowledge and fosters the
development of new jobs and businesses.
As a good citizen of the higher education community, we look for opportunities to forge productive partnerships with other higher education institutions.
We also are very mindful of our valued traditions and strong collaborative involvement with HBCUs. For decades, we have opened our doors to graduates and
faculty members from these important institutions. IU was a major resource for minorities seeking postgraduate education during an era when their home
states denied them such access. We are extremely proud that many presidents of HBCUs are IU alumni.
Today I am pleased to announce the establishment of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Initiative. This STEM Initiative is a partnership
among Indiana University and nine HBCUs.
The partners in this undertaking are:
- IU's two research campuses-Indiana University Bloomington and IUPUI,
- Alabama A&M University,
- Bennett College for Women,
- Clark Atlanta University,
- Hampton University,
- Jackson State University,
- Langston University,
- Morehouse College,
- Morgan State University and
- Xavier University of Louisiana.
We have worked closely together for many months to develop a partnership based on mutual respect.
Committees with representatives of every partner have been involved in planning the STEM Initiative's programs. Like all good partnerships, this one will
have benefits for all the participants. It reflects the core values and aspirations of all our institutions.
GOALS OF THE INITIATIVE
This innovative undertaking unites several thousand students and faculty members throughout the United States around a common objective: increasing the
number of underrepresented minority graduate students, scholars and professionals in STEM disciplines.
The goals of the undertaking are four-fold:
- To provide increased access for HBCU students to IU graduate programs in the STEM disciplines,
- To facilitate STEM research opportunities for HBCU and IU students,
- To encourage collaborative research between IU and HBCU faculty members in the STEM disciplines and
- To enrich academic opportunities for all partners through student and faculty exchanges.
METHODOLOGY
We have developed four programs to achieve these goals.
- Faculty Collaboration: Effective the next academic year, faculty from our HBCU partners will work with IU faculty to develop and submit research
proposals to the NSF, NIH the Department of Energy and appropriate foundations.
- Research Institute: We will develop STEM research institutes to facilitate faculty and student exchanges among our institutions. In addition to a
visiting scholars program and summer research institutes, one of the goals of these institutes will be to develop shared curriculum offerings through
distance learning.
- Summer Scholars Institute: This summer, up to 20 HBCU, IUPUI and Bloomington undergraduates will participate in an 8-week Summer Scholars Institute.
These students will work in research labs along side faculty at the IU School of Medicine, the School of Science at IUPUI and the College of Arts and
Sciences in Bloomington. Students will receive a $4,000 stipend, in addition to having all of their expenses paid.
Because this is such a clear priority for me and such a clear benefit for IU and the state she serves, I have made funds available from the Office of the
President to support the Summer Scholars Institute.
- Endowed Graduate Fellowships: As further evidence of IU's strong commitment to this STEM initiative, we are very pleased to announce the creation of
The President's Graduate Fellowship Program.
I am announcing today that I have established a $2 million endowment fund to provide multi-year fellowships for master's and Ph.D. students in STEM
disciplines.
At the time of their enrollment at IU, recipients must hold an earned degree from an HBCU or be a first-generation college student. The Indiana University
Graduate School will administer the fellowships. They will be open to all campuses and programs that are under the auspices of the University Graduate
School.
The University Graduate School will establish criteria for ensuring accountability from award recipients and the participating IU campuses and academic
units. Campuses must provide matching funds and fee remissions for the recipients.
In addition, the recipient's academic unit also must provide a plan for mentorship and for research or creative activities.
The Presidential Fellowships will be offered effective next fall for up to six doctoral and approximately 10 master's degree students. With the assistance
of the IU Foundation it is my hope to enlarge further the scope of this program.
CONCLUSION
The IU-HBCU STEM Initiative provides a strong complement to the Indiana Life Sciences Initiative. It will help to ensure that members of under-represented
groups develop the expanded expertise necessary to contribute to the life sciences industry and other scientific fields that are becoming such a vital part
of our nation's economy.
Indiana University is honored to facilitate the development of this innovative partnership that will serve as a national model for building relationships
between a large, public research institution and multiple HBCUs.
