** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** MINORITY ENROLLMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS GROWING, HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL A DEFINITE GAP IN DIVERSIFICATION WITHIN STEM PROFESSIONS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT ONE OF THE BEST APPROACHES TOWARD DIVERSIFYING STEM PROFESSIONALS IS RETENTION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR PROGRAMS INTO GRADUATION. PARTICIPATION IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAMS ALLOWS FOR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS TO SHIFT TO A MORE STUDENT FOCUSED AND INTEREST SPECIFIC PATHWAY. A SURE FIT IS A 5-YEAR PROGRAM DESIGNED TO OFFER AN ANNUAL PAID 6-WEEK UNDERGRADUATE SUMMER RESEARCH INTERNSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS (N=9 ANNUALLY, 36 TOTAL) FROM TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY (HSI; N=3), PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY (HBCU; N=3), AND TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (HSI; N=3). EACH INTERN WILL BE HOSTED BY A RESEARCH FACULTY MEMBER (N = 9 ANNUALLY) AT TEXAS A&M WITH PROJECTS LARGELY FOCUSING ON PRIORITY AREA ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS. THE COHORT OF INTERNS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A WEEKLY LEARNING COMMUNITY WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS FOCUSED ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SIX-WEEK RESEARCH INTENSIVE PROGRAM, INTERNS WILL PRESENT THEIR DATA AND SUMMER EXPERIENCE AT THE TEXAS A&M BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE A SURE FIT SESSION. A SURE FIT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS WITH RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION KNOWLEDGE TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN INDUSTRY CAREERS AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS. FURTHER, THIS PROGRAM WILL ENHANCE FACULTY MENTOR KNOWLEDGE IN SUPPORTING AND MENTORING UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENT POPULATIONS AT TEXAS A&M.

Texas A&M Agrilife Research, College Station TX

Investigators