1. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION

2. HISTORY of the NC OPT-ED Program 1999: Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant – then called -- Minority Graduate Education (MGE) Program North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) and North Carolina State University (NCSU) - joint AGEP University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) - independent AGEP 2000: NCSU, UNC-CH and NC A&T began a formal alliance, and later that year decided to integrate this university alliance with all other NSF-HRD supported programs in North Carolina – called the North Carolina Alliance to Create Opportunity Through Education (OPT-ED) 2001: OPT-ED received an AGEP supplement to begin implementing a number of joint programs and to hire an Alliance coordinator 2005: NC A&T, NCSU and UNC-CH received AGEP Phase II funding to expand and continue NC OPT-ED

3. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION Goals OPT-ED constituent programs operate both individually and cooperatively to broaden participation and diversify the STEM workforce and academe by encouraging underrepresented minority students, from middle school through graduate school to achieve the PhD, and ultimately enter the professoriate in one of the STEM disciplines. Serving as a catalyst for greater synergy among these NSF-sponsored partners, NC OPT-ED strengthens their collaboration and cooperation for excellence in STEM education and research, promoting activities that magnify their efforts to achieve common goals.

4. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION NC OPT-ED AGEP Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate Program HBCU-UP Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program NC-LSAMP North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation NC-MSEN North Carolina Math Science Education Network - Pre-College Programs (Grades 6-12) CREST Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology NC-TABS North Carolina Transfer Assistance in the Biomedical Sciences Program GEAR UP Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs BRIDGE Bioscience Research Initiative for Doctoral Graduate Education PARI Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute

5. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Network (MSEN) The NC-MSEN Pre-College Program, which targets traditionally underserved students, prepares middle and high school students to achieve high standards in mathematics and science and seeks to cultivate interest in postsecondary education. The NC-MSEN, having received NSF funding for their Pre-College Research Experience Project, became an initial NC OPT-ED partner and due to the continued importance of preparing young scholars in STEM disciplines, NC-MSEN remains a key partner. The NC-MSEN program operates at the following North Carolina institutions: East Carolina University Elizabeth City State University Fayetteville State University North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University North Carolina State University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlotte Western Carolina University Winston Salem State University

6. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Programs (HBCU-UP) The HBCU-UP funding provides awards to enhance the quality of STEM instructional and outreach programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities as a means to broaden participation in the nation’s STEM workforce. North Carolina currently has six (6) HBCU-UP awards, the largest number of awards garnered by any state. Presently, HBCU-UP projects exist at the following North Carolina institutions: Bennett College Johnson C. Smith University North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University North Carolina Central University Saint Augustine’s College Winston Salem State University

7. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) The North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NC-LSAMP) is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, regional partnership comprised of eight (8) institutions within the University of North Carolina system. The chief aim of the alliance is to significantly increase the quantity and quality of underrepresented minority students earning a B.S. in STEM disciplines. It is also the intent of the alliance to encourage these students to subsequently pursue M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in these fields. NC-LSAMP participating institutions includes: Fayetteville State University North Carolina Central University North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University North Carolina State University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina at Pembroke Winston Salem State University

8. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION Centers for Research in Science and Technology (CREST) The CREST center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures (CAMSS) which operates at two institutions in the University of North Carolina system seeks to create cross-disciplinary infrastructure that transcends departmental, institutional, industrial, and governmental barriers and lends itself to the integration of research and education in the vital field of smart and advanced materials. In accomplishing these ends significant emphasis is placed on integration with NSF Diversity Focused programs addressing the STEM continuum. The North Carolina CREST project involves the following North Carolina institutions: North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University North Carolina State University

9. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION Role of the NC OPT-ED Central Office Serves as a center of excellence where the NC OPT-ED partners can share information and effectively integrate their programs Plans joint events that encompass all the students, faculty, and staff of our partnered programs, as well as others Seeks opportunities where the NC OPT-ED Alliance and its partners can grow and become a value added educational entity to the state of North Carolina Educational System Creates a framework for providing guidance and support to all the NC OPT-ED Alliance partners Evaluates OPT-ED program components and how well these components are integrated

10. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION Major Joint Programs Managed by OPT-ED Central Office OPT-ED Alliance Day (National Conference) Mentoring Workshops for Current and Future Faculty (State-Wide) Graduate Student Crosstalks (State-Wide) Steering Committee Meetings (Alliance)

11. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION OPT-ED ALLIANCE DAY 2007 OPT-ED ALLIANCE DAY – SEPTEMBER 28

12. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION NUMBER OF SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING AT EACH ACADEMIC LEVEL # of Schools Middle Schools 16 High Schools 32 Community Colleges 7 Universities*31 Alliance Day 2006 *From 13 different states: Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC

13. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION

15. Alliance Steering Committee Meetings Includes Directors and Coordinators of AGEP, CREST, PARI, HBCU-UP’s, NC-LSAMP (lead AND partners), and MSEN Facilitates cross-fertilization of ideas/interaction among and within the various programs Serves as an advisory group to provide input on OPT-ED joint initiatives, as well as activities at its constituent institutions Speakers invited to address issues of mutual interest: proposal development and contracts and grants administration

16. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION Programs at NCSU, UNC, NC A&T for OPT-ED Students (and others)

17. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION Other Programs at NCSU, UNC, NC A&T for OPT-ED Students Continuous Monitoring and Mentoring Visitation Programs Summer Research Program Symposium at NC State 21 Programs; 202 posters; 55 institutions; 21 states and Puerto Rico Bridging and Transition Programs Research Support for Current Ph.D. Students Research Materials/Supplies Grants Assistantships Supplemental Fellowships Professional Development Workshops Travel Funds for Undergraduates and Graduate Students Future Faculty Recruitment Program

18. OPT-ED Pathway to the Professoriate Pre-College MSEN Alliance Day UG Research Symposium Graduate School Preparation LSAMP/HBCU-UP/AGEP Alliance Day Travel Funds Seminars/Workshops Research Experiences Visitations Transition AGEP Institutional Programs Alliance Day Bridging Programs Seminars/Workshops Retention AGEP Institutional Programs CREST Alliance Day Mentoring Workshop Crosstalks Assistantships Supplemental Fellowships Professional Development Prepare Future Faculty AGEP Institutional Programs CREST Alliance Day Crosstalks Seminars/Workshops Mentoring Workshop Future Faculty Recruitment Program

19. NORTH CAROLINA ALLIANCE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION http://www.unc.edu/opt-ed/