Universities help minority students to become profs

The following news release was prepared by University
Communications for a special edition of the Columbus Call and
Post newspaper which will be published May 5, 1994.  A selection
of photographs also was sent to the newspaper.

OHIO UNIVERSITIES HELP MINORITY STUDENTS TO BECOME PROFESSORS

     COLUMBUS -- Ohio's colleges and universities are using STARS
to guide minority college students into careers as professors.

     The STARS in this case is an innovative program sponsored by
the Ohio Board of Regents.  The program, called Undergraduate
STARS (Student Achievement in Research and Scholarship), steers
high-ability African-American, Hispanic and Native American
college students toward careers in college teaching and research.

     STARS, which began in 1992, links promising college
sophomores and juniors with a faculty mentor at their university.
The mentor guides the STARS student in academic matters -- from
selecting courses to making contact with graduate schools --
throughout the rest of the student's undergraduate years.

     STARS also provides students with independent research
opportunities, conference participation and travel scholarships,
networking opportunities and assistance in applying to graduate
school.

     STARS students from across the state gathered at The Ohio
State University on April 11 and 12 for their annual spring
conference.  The program included presentations by students on
their research.  Raquel M. Ortiz of Ohio State, for example,
reported on her study of Puerto Rican art.

     Other sessions focused on preparing for the Graduate Record
Exam and completing applications for graduate school.

     Goals of the STARS program include a more diverse faculty in
Ohio colleges and universities, a more diverse professional and
scientific workforce, and increased minority student retention
due to the presence of more minority professors as role models.

     The following 13 Ohio colleges and universities participate
in the STARS program: University of Akron, Bowling Green State
University, Central State University, Cleveland State University,
University of Cincinnati, Cuyahoga Community College, John
Carroll University, Kent State University, The Ohio State
University, Miami University, Sinclair Community College, Wright
State University and Youngstown State University.

     In addition to state support, the STARS program has received
major funding from the Cleveland Foundation and the Gund
Foundation.

                                #

Contact: Carol Anderson at the Ohio Board of Regents, (614) 644-
5888, or Earl Anderson, STARS clearinghouse director at Cleveland
State University, (216) 687-3595.


[Submitted by: STERRETT  (sterrett@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Tue, 03 May 1994 17:35:11 -0500 (EST)]
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