Annual conference to encourage pursuit of graduate studiesANN ARBOR—Some 560 undergraduate students majoring in 114 fields of study at colleges and universities across the nation will come together this weekend (July 13-15) on the University of Michigan campus for a conference designed to encourage talented undergraduates to pursue graduate study and, subsequently, academic careers. Forty-seven of the students are from the U-M.

The conference is one part of an in-depth research experience for the participants in the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP). The program was initiated in 1986 by the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Graduate Deans. The CIC includes all Big 10 schools plus the Universities of Chicago, Illinois at Chicago, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis. The conference is held on a different CIC campus each year and brings together students from all 15 of the host CIC institutions. Since this program began, over 7,500 students have participated.

“The graduate deans of the CIC all agree that there is nothing more important than creating opportunities for a diverse group of students to gain research experience, in this case during their sophomore and junior years,” stated Earl Lewis, dean of U-M’s Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. “The conference showcases the talents of these outstanding students. In them we see the future of research and scholarship in American higher education.”

The weekend features roundtable progress reports by all current student participants, presentations by SROP alumni and other graduate students and faculty members, professional development workshops, and opportunities to meet with graduate school representatives to discuss individual programs. Students also meet others interested in academic careers and reinforce one another’s commitment to pursue advanced study.

Approximately 140 faculty and staff will be participating, including 75 faculty members from the U-M.

“The success of the SROP has been truly phenomenal,” declared Roger Doster, assistant to the Rackham dean for recruitment, retention and fellowships. “The retention, graduation, and post-baccalaureate rates of SROP students are substantially higher than those of the general student population. Over two-thirds of the SROP alumni have gone on to graduate and professional schools—five times the national average for all baccalaureates in the United States. Those going on to graduate school receive fellowships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships to finance their graduate studies. At last count, 104 alumni had already earned their Ph.D. degrees, over 225 students had earned professional doctorates (in law, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine), and many more are currently enrolled in advanced degree programs.”

The SROP provides students opportunities to work one-on-one with faculty mentors. Weekly campus-based educational enrichment activities broaden each student’s view of graduate education and research and strengthen their technical skills. Campus workshops inform students about graduate admission procedures, financial aid opportunities, test-taking skills, preparing a presentation, and university resources. Seminars, conducted by faculty and graduate students, expose the undergraduates to a wide range of research fields, while informal social gatherings provide a relaxed setting for students and faculty to exchange ideas and share experiences. At the end of the summer, a symposium or poster session is held on each campus during which students present the results of their research projects. The third component of the SROP is the two and one-half day conference.

“Without the cooperation and commitment from the public, private, and corporate sectors, this program would not be possible,” Doster said. The total cost of this year’s SROP is expected to exceed $3 million. Host CIC institutions provided major funding for the program. Individual institutions have also been awarded grants from the GE Fund, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education under their McNair program.

Summer Research Opportunities ProgramEarl LewisGE Fund