Promoting STEM education and careers among hispanics and other minorities through programs, enrichment, and other activities

Hispanics are the fastest-growing and youngest ethnic group in the United States. It is estimated that Hispanics will comprise 30 percent of the U.S. population by the year 2040 and will become the largest ethnic group by then. Nevertheless, low enrollment of Hispanics in STEM disciplines and lack of professionals in STEM-specific careers is a major concern to many. As a major Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in southern Texas, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) has been engaged in providing quality education in STEM disciplines to Hispanic and other minority communities. The STEM-Minority Outreach and Retention Enhancement (STEM-MORE) project, funded by the US Department of Education, is part of such effort, which was established in 2011 with activities planned for the following three years. Several project components including MORE-Education and Enrichment Program (MOREEEP), MORE-Transfer and Retention Program (MORE-TRP), MORE-High School Outreach Program (MORE-HOP), MORE-Mathematics Enrichment Program (MORE-MEP), MOREInternship and Research Programs (MORE-IRP), and MORE-Professional Development Program (MORE-PDP) have been implemented. This presentation will highlight the success of this project in its second year with detailed components and how they were implemented.