Work In Progress: Expanding the Ph.D. STEM Student Pool along the US-Mexican Border

Nationwide, minority students remain largely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics doctoral programs. The University of Texas System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation has spearheaded a project to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who pursue graduate degrees in these disciplines. Through the "Bridge to the Doctorate" project, we have recruited 34 students and offered them financial support to succeed in their efforts. We have monitored their progress as they transition into the research phase of their doctoral programs, informed them about the dissertation process, offered workshops about effective teaching strategies, prepared them for faculty interviews, and advised them on the process of negotiating start-up research packages for new faculty. With this level of financial support and mentorship, we anticipate that 100% of the students will earn a Master\´s degree and that more than 90% will earn a Doctorate within five years