Its Time to Step into Science at Medgar Evers College.

Over the next decade, demand and job opportunities in science and engineering (S&E) are expected to grow. With so many S&E "baby-boomers" retiring, questions arise as to whether America will be able to attract enough young people into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to maintain a S&E workforce that keeps up with what is becoming a more globally technologically and scientifically advancing society. Furthermore, considering recent projections of a nation more racially and ethnically diverse by mid-century, will America's future STEM workforce reflect the diversity projected for our growing U.S. population? In 2006, the authors received an award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to direct a new initiative titled "STEP into Science." Funded under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) of the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education, the main goal of the project is to increase the number of STEM majors that graduate with baccalaureate degree, specifically B.S. degrees in Biology or Environmental Science. The program has had great success implementing the use of "peer recruiters" to attract more high school, transfer, and non-science college students into STEM majors and places emphasis on the role of undergraduate research experiences as a successful strategy to increase the quality and retention of science majors through their baccalaureate degree. Since the inception of the program, total STEM enrollment has more than doubled and the number of majors actively engaged in research has risen 38% with a concurrent increase in student research presentations at scientific conference, and the number of students receiving external research internships and travel awards to attend national conferences. The number of STEM graduates (both A.S. and B.S.) has also increased and the program anticipates that these and future STEP into Science graduates will continue on to Masters and Doctoral programs in STEM and ultimately enter rewarding careers in the science enterprise.