Effectiveness of a network Open House model to recruit trainees to post-baccalaureate STEM programs

Abstract

Post-baccalaureate (post-bac) programs can have a positive impact on science training and STEM career opportunities for junior trainees. A goal for many of these sponsored programs is to increase research exposure for underrepresented minorities, a group that can include African American, Hispanic, Native American, and first-generation college students, among others. Recruiting underrepresented minorities to post-bac programs can be challenging, for reasons that include a lack of available research opportunities, time to pursue these experiences, and awareness of available programs. To this end, an Open House event was created to inform and excite potential students for future post-bac programs. Students were recruited from partnering Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to attend a two-day event at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) and a research-intensive R1 institution. The students visited both campuses, were informed about post-bac programs and potential research opportunities, and met with faculty, current graduate students, and a former post-bac scholar. Transportation, lodging, and meals were provided. Visiting students completed voluntary pre- and post-surveys. Results indicated that attendees, the majority of whom were underrepresented minorities in STEM, left the event with an increased understanding about post-bac programs and their benefits to a career in STEM and that their attendance at the event made it more likely they would apply to available post-bac programs. Thus, this work demonstrates that in-person events involving integrative partnerships across multiple universities are effective strategies for increasing awareness of opportunities available to students post-graduation and for recruiting underrepresented groups in STEM to post-bac programs.