Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

September 12, 2003

Ten teams receive grants for student recruitment, retention plans

by Anne Krapfl
Ten proposals will share $29,970 in grant funding this year for projects aimed at recruiting students to Iowa State or encouraging them to stay to earn degrees. The grant program, now in its 10th year, is funded by the President's Office and administered by a standing committee of the Professional and Scientific Council.

The 10 were selected from 19 proposals submitted, requesting a total of $71,096. The grant awards range in size from $1,400 to $5,950. Grant recipients are required to turn in reports on specific outcomes of their efforts. Following is a brief summary of the 10 funded proposals:

A two-day campus visit for underrepresented (undergraduate) students around the country to recruit them to ISU as doctoral students in engineering. $3,500.
A program to match 15 low-income, potentially college-bound (first-generation) high school juniors with ISU student mentors from similar backgrounds to foster connections and expand their access to higher education. $3,220.
A series of academic and social activities designed to link freshman students of color with various campus resources, offices and upperclassmen to enhance their freshman year and retain them at Iowa State. $5,000.
A leadership development program in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences that gives minority students lots of formal and informal interaction with faculty, staff and graduate students in the college. $5,950.
A one-stop Web site that highlights ISU majors in the broad areas of science, technology, engineering and math, particularly intended to recruit high school girls to Iowa State in these areas. $2,200.
An on-campus workshop series for high school teachers and students that demonstrates the connections between agriculture and sciences. It uses the example of a biosecurity threat to give participants experience in hands-on learning and cutting-edge research. $2,000.
Funding to bring two groups of girls (grades 6-9 and 9-12) from Des Moines County to campus to participate in the annual "Taking the Road Less Traveled" conference that exposes girls to careers in science, technology, engineering and math. $1,400.
A video and DVD that will be created and used to show high school students the diverse career opportunities in agriculture. $1,200.
Funding for "Learn and Earn," a summer enrichment program of the Science Bound pre-college series for ethnic minority students that helps with academic preparation for college. $2,000.
A marketing program aimed at reducing high-risk alcohol use among ISU students by providing accurate information about peer drinking and social norms. The goal is a safer campus and more attractive college experience so students want to remain at ISU. $3,500.