Freake said many potential future scientists become intimidated in high school by the challenge of obtaining a science degree or fail to receive the education needed to succeed at a university.
“The key piece is providing them the support they need to succeed,'' he said. “That will include tutoring services, freshman experience courses, mentor relationships and close academic advising.''
Freake said he expects the program will attract more minority and low-income students to the natural sciences, but it is not open to anyone.
“I served on a task force that had the goal of trying to attract minority faculty members. But I came to realize that unless you have more minority graduates and undergraduates, you're not going to increase your faculty where you need to,'' he said. “So that's the central issue for me.''
- Associated Press
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