Irvine, Calif., Oct. 25, 2024 — Since 1991, the California Alliance for Minority Participation has worked across the nine undergraduate campuses of the University of California to boost the number of students from underrepresented groups who earn degrees in science, technology, engineering and math. UC data gathered in the years after CAMP’s launch show that STEM enrollment for these students at UC has increased nearly sixfold and that the number of STEM degrees awarded to them is nearly 10 times greater.

The ultimate goal of CAMP is to diversify the STEM workforce, including expanding pathways for students entering graduate school and the professoriate. The National Science Foundation, the funding partner in this longtime initiative, recently awarded $2.5 million to UC to extend CAMP’s summer research scholarships, grad school application preparation courses, faculty mentorship and other programmatic elements. The project also encompasses a research component that examines and disseminates promising practices for STEM student success. Two lead investigators on the systemwide grant are from the University of California, Irvine: Pheather R. Harris, program director of the campus CAMP, and Derek Dunn-Rankin, professor emeritus of mechanical and aerospace engineering and faculty director of the campus CAMP.

“CAMP has had decades of impactful success in diversifying STEM fields. Its new phase will further accelerate inclusive excellence in STEM at UC Irvine and across the statewide alliance,” said Dyonne Bergeron, UC Irvine vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion.

With support from the UC Irvine Center for Educational Partnerships and in collaboration with the UC Office of the President and the UC Irvine Office of Inclusive Excellence, Harris and Dunn-Rankin will coordinate the statewide initiative through its systemwide core, creating linkages among the partner campuses. Highlights include an annual CAMP research symposium; a portal that can be accessed by multiple program partners and stakeholders; a social media presence to bolster CAMP’s visibility; and the distribution of student support resources that include grad school and career preparation, research opportunities, conference travel assistance, mentoring and study skills guidance, and inclusive spaces for peer interaction.

The next phase of CAMP will energize pathways for diverse community college students to transfer to UC campuses and earn B.S. degrees in STEM disciplines. This work will be in partnership with the California Central Coast Community College Collaborative and the California Community Colleges Extended Opportunity Programs and Services Association, which already exist on every community college member campus.

The UC Office of the President is committed to the success of the CAMP project across the alliance, dedicating an additional $3 million over the next three years. UC President Michael V. Drake is principal investigator on the new NSF grant. Yvette Gullatt, UCOP vice president for graduate and undergraduate affairs; vice provost for equity, diversity and inclusion; and chief diversity officer, is a co-principal investigator. UCOP’s Graduate Studies division, overseen by Gullatt and Associate Vice Provost Pamela D. Jennings, will partner with the team at UC Irvine to advance the mission and vision of the project.

“The collaboration between UCOP and UC Irvine is incredibly important to institutionalize the initiative statewide, strengthen collective efforts across the UC and community college landscape, create a data infrastructure that will inform ongoing endeavors, and amplify a research hub to serve CAMP students and faculty partners for many years to come,” Harris said.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

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