1. Science & Medicine Graduate Research Scholars (SciMed GRS) Program College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Dr. Birl Lowery, SciMed GRS Director Abbey Thompson, SciMed GRS Coordinator

2. History of SciMed GRS Fall 2005: Biological Sciences Strategic Planning Committee started BioGRS/SciMed GRS initiative June 2006: Proposal presented to BioDeans Selection of SciMed GRS Director, Dr. Sara Patterson (Horticulture)

3. History of SciMed GRS cont. Fall 2007: Creation of SciMed GRS Advisory Committee ▫17 faculty members from CALS and SMPH ▫2 Graduate School Representatives Fall 2007: Official name change from BioGRS to SciMed GRS February 2008: SciMed GRS Coordinator (Abbey Thompson) hired

4. History of SciMed GRS cont. Spring 2008: Advance Opportunity Fellowship (AOF) for 2008-09 awarded through SciMed GRS, SciMed GRS hosts Community Events for continuing students August 2008: Dr. Birl Lowery (Soil Science) named SciMed GRS Director during Sara Patterson’s absence

5. History of SciMed GRS cont. Fall 2008: SciMed GRS welcomes first cohort of 18 students from 12 departments and programs

6. SciMed GRS Graduate Programs & Departments Agriculture and Applied Economics* Agroecology † Agronomy Animal Science Bacteriology † Biochemistry (Integrated Program in Biochemistry)* † Biological Systems Engineering Biophysics Cellular & Molecular Biology*† Cellular & Molecular Pathology*† Dairy Science Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology* † Entomology Food Science* Forest & Wildlife Ecology Genetics † Horticulture Landscape Architecture Life Sciences Communications*† Medical Microbiology & Immunology Medical Physics*† Microbiology *† Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology† Molecular & Environmental Toxicology*† Neuroscience Training Program* Nutritional Sciences† Oncology (Cancer Biology) Physiology† Plant Breeding & Genetics† Plant Pathology† Population Health *† Soil Science† * new SciMed GRS student † continuing AOF/SciMed GRS student

7. Justification Need to train sufficient numbers of underrepresented minority students in CALS and SMPH Successful models on campus  Engineering – GERS  L & S – C-GRS  Education – EdGRS

8. Mission of SciMed GRS To sustain and enhance recruitment and retention of Underrepresented Minority (URM) students to graduate programs in CALS and SMPH at UW-Madison

9. Improve Recruiting of URM Students SciMed GRS attendance at national undergraduate minority focused conferences: ▫Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and related Sciences (MANRRS) ▫Society for Advancement of Native Americans, Chicanos in Sciences (SACNAS) ▫National McNair Research Conference ▫Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)

10. Improve Recruiting of URM Students SciMed GRS works to enhance and facilitate recruiting efforts of URM in the CALS and SMPH through centralized communication and coordination of recruiting opportunities. ▫Distributes recruiting announcements, deadlines, and requests for program materials to share at recruiting conferences.

11. Improve Retention of URM Students: Establish Community through Career Development & Social Activities ▫Spring 2007: Events with continuing students: Coffee Hours, Student Dinner, Picnic Potluck

12. Improve Retention of URM Students: Establish Community through Career Development & Social Activities ▫Fall 2008:  Orientation & Welcome Dinner  Professional Development Workshops & Community Events (approx. every 3 weeks during fall semester)

13. SciMed GRS Budget Graduate Coordinator–CALS-SMPH Recruiting Funds—Graduate School Community Events—CALS AOF Allocation—Graduate School Future Funding

14. SciMed GRS Program Contact Info Dr. Birl Lowery, SciMed GRS Director ▫blowery@wisc.edu Abbey Thompson, SciMed GRS Coordinator ▫akthomp1@wisc.edu ▫608.890.2308 Website: http://www.cals.wisc.edu/gradstudies/gradscholars/