ANN ARBOR—The Undergraduate Research Opportunity
Program (UROP) at the University of Michigan has been
recognized with a Presidential Award for Excellence in
Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Through these annual awards, administered and funded
by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the president
honors individuals and programs that have been exemplary in
encouraging minorities, women and persons with disabilities
to pursue careers in scientific, engineering and technical
fields.

In a letter to Fawwaz Ulaby, U-M vice president for
research, Neal Lane, President Clinton’s assistant for
science and technology wrote: “As we approach the 21st
Century, it is essential that all American students are
prepared to meet the scientific and technological
challenges of the future. Your institution’s
accomplishments in mentoring students from underrepresented
groups exemplify the talent and commitment this program
aims to recognize.”

Announcing the award, NSF Director Rita Caldwell said:
“No personal influence is as powerful, long-lasting and
positive as that of a superlative mentor. Those receiving
this award are a true national resource and help define the
quality of our nation’s future human resources in science,
mathematics, technology and engineering.”

UROP, one of a number of initiatives by the College of
Literature, Science, and the Arts to improve the
undergraduate experience at the U-M, was begun in 1988 to
create research partnerships between first- and second-year
students and faculty researchers. From 14 partnerships
that first year, the program has grown to involve 900
students working with more than 550 faculty in a wide range
of projects, according to UROP director, Sandra Gregerman.

“We are deeply grateful to have our program honored by
the president,” said Gregerman. “We are proud of what our
faculty-student partnerships have accomplished. Several other universities have consulted with us and are developing
programs modeled on ours. The University of Wisconsin started their program last year and the University of Kentucky launched one this year,” she said.

U-M faculty have played a crucial role in UROP, added
Gregerman. “The program would not be so successful without
the participation and outstanding mentorship of our faculty who have opened up their laboratories and research to close to 4,000 students since the program’s inception. These students have co-authored papers, presented research at national meetings, and shared in exciting discoveries,” she said.

“I am pleased that Michigan and UROP have been honored
for our efforts to mentor students,” said Ulaby, “and I’m not entirely surprised, either. UROP has a terrific record of involving undergraduate students in their learning through research experiences, backed up by assessment research that is beginning to help us understand why these mentoring experiences are so useful for success of our undergraduate students.”

Ulaby also noted that the UROP is one of many programs at the U-M-Women in Science and Engineering, Marian Sarah Parker Scholars in the College of Engineering, and the Summer Research Opportunity Program, to name a few?that integrates research and scholarship with undergraduate education to enhance student learning.

Gregerman said that the UROP is offering this year an
expanded junior/senior program to accommodate the growing
number of students who want a research experience prior to
graduation or to build on previous research experiences. Also, UROP will increase opportunities for students in the community with research placements at Parke-Davis, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and community-based organizations in Washtenaw County and Detroit.

“We have changed the undergraduate culture at the U-M
with the help of UROP,” said Gregerman. “Students now expect and seek out opportunities to do research throughout their undergraduate careers.”

UROP will receive a $10,000 grant and a presidential commemorative certificate in honor of this award. The grant will be directed back into the
UROP program to directly benefit student participants.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS
AND ENGINEERING MENTORING 1999 WINNERS INDIVIDUALS: Ajay K. Bose, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ George Castro, San Jose State University Meera Chandrasekhar, University of Missouri-Columbia Harold Deutschman, New Jersey Institute of Technology-Newark Samuel F. Hart, Sr., Mercer University, Macon, Georgia Ram S. Lamba, University of Puerto Rico-Cayey Raymond B. Landis, California State University-Los Angeles Zafra M. Lerman, Columbia College, Chicago Richard L. Radtke, University of Hawaii-Manoa Mary L. Soffa, University of Pittsburgh INSTITUTIONS:Oregon State University Science and Mathematics Investigative Learning Experiences University of California-Santa Cruz Academic Excellence (ACE) Honors Program University of Virginia Office of Minority Programs in the School of Engineering and Applied Science Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Douglass Project for Women in Mathematics, Science and Engineering The University of Michigan Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program

FACT SHEET

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics
and Engineering Mentoring

Background:

Approximately 20 recipients receive the award each
year-up to 10 individuals and 10 institutions. The
individual award is given to mentors who have demonstrated
outstanding and sustained mentoring and effective guidance
to a significant number of students at the K-12,
undergraduate or graduate education levels. The
institutional award is given to organizations that, through
institutional programming, have enabled a substantial
number of students from groups underrepresented in science,
mathematics and engineering to successfully pursue and
complete the relevant degree programs.

History:

Science in the National Interest, a 1994 national
policy document on science and technology, articulated
several goals as part of the Clinton Administration’s
effort to propel the nation into the 21st century on a
strong scientific and technological foundation. Two of the
major goals are the production of the finest scientists and
engineers for the 21st century, and scientific literacy for
all.

The Administration committed to maximizing the
nation’s pool of talented, well-educated, and highly
trained scientists and engineers to help achieve those
goals. This entails maintaining demonstrated excellence in
the production of scientists and engineers by actively
increasing the participation of talent that draws fully on
all racial/cultural segments of the nation’s population.

Rationale for the Mentoring Program:

The White House Office of Science and Technology
Policy through its National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) established the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in recognition of the critical importance played by visible role models and the power of mentors to affect the development of talent among groups traditionally underrepresented in science, mathematics and engineering.

The awards are implemented by NSTC’s Committee on
Education and Training. They recognize outstanding
mentoring efforts and programs that have enhanced the
participation of individuals from underrepresented groups
awardees serve as role models and leaders in the
national effort to develop more fully the nation’s human
resources in science, mathematics and engineering.

Administration:

The Mentoring awards are administered by the National
Science Foundation. Both the individual and the
institutional awards include a $10,000 grant to go along
with a Presidential commemorative certificate. The monetary
award is to be directed back into the recognized mentoring
activity.