The Biology Scholars Program (BSP), in the Department of Integrative Biology, promotes the success of students from economic, gender, ethnic and cultural groups historically underrepresented in biology. The goal of BSP is to diversify who succeeds in science, thereby benefiting both the discipline and our larger society. Founded in 1992 by John Matsui and Caroline Kane, the program has served 1600 students supported by funds from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. In 2007, 76% of BSP graduates were accepted into medical school (the national average is 50%, and at Berkeley, 55%) and 100% were admitted to PhD programs.
BSP offers a “home” within the university where students receive comprehensive, tailored support based on their individual needs, including financial support and academic and professional development. Workshops and study groups as well as preparatory courses are led by peers, helping their fellow BSP members develop a strong foundation in the science material as well as in test-taking and research skills. For-credit courses have been developed and are taught by some of Berkeley’s finest faculty, who also host faculty fireside chats to discuss careers, and the challenge and joy of working in the sciences. Students also participate in internships through a number of programs that are partners with BSP, including the co-recipient of this year’s Educational Initiatives Award, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
BSP has developed a set of three key principles that serve as its foundation: that it is student-centered and student driven; that it creates a strong sense of community and a culture of success and commitment to service; and that it strives for continuous improvement through educational research, rigorous evaluation, and data/outcomes based innovations.
Current and former students praise the program:
“The Biology Scholars Program has greatly enriched the quality of my life, and I will undoubtedly incorporate these aspects of collaboration in all future endeavors.”
“Without BSP I'd be lost and I am grateful for the friends, mentors, guidance, opportunities, and confidence."
“As a health educator, a patient advocate, and case manager, I apply to the patients I work with the same compassion, dedication, and support that received from the Biology Scholars Program.”
In addition to its significant impact on campus, BSP has contributed directly to the formation and enhancement of diversity programs in more than twenty colleges and universities, including Yale, University of Washington, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego. W. Geoffrey Owen, Dean of Biological Sciences, says, “BSP provides a compelling example of how a comprehensive and integrative support program can make a great difference in the success of students; and the knowledge gained during its development is a valuable resource for others on campus.”