“After more than five decades of racial integration and four decades of affirmative action, most of the nation's colleges and universities have not come close to eliminating the performance gap that separates many black, Hispanic, and Native American students from their white and Asian-American counterparts.”27 The HHMI's 2004 and now 2008 grant fund Davidson College’s attempt to close this gap and improve retention of underrepresented minorities (URM) in the sciences using the Strategies for Success program.

During the summer prior to their first year at Davidson, students from URM groups are invited to apply to the Strategies program by writing an essay on their interest in science and submitting their high school transcript.  Eight first-year students are selected each year by Davidson’s HHMI committee and notified of their acceptance to the program by mid-August. Students involved in Strategies during their first-year continue through their second-year. These students have the opportunity to become third- and fourth-year Strategies mentors based on an essay outlining their desire to become mentors

First-year Strategies students meet weekly for dinner and discussion with four third-year mentors and Dr. Verna Case, faculty mentor for the program.  Topics for weekly discussions are planned by the third-year mentors, during their meetings with Dr. Case. Each first-year student receives a scholarship for participating in the program.

Second-year students in the Strategies program will also meet weekly for dinner and discussion. The meetings will focus on research and in-depth experiences in science and mathematics and will be organized and led by fourth-year mentors. A variety of science career options will be discussed. Each second-year student also receives a scholarship.

In addition to their mentoring responsibilities, third- and fourth-year students will learn how to develop their own leadership skills. Four third-year mentors will be selected annually, each receiving a scholarship. Fourth-year mentors (2-4/year) will receive funds toward travel associated with their leadership project or for graduate or professional school visits. 

                                               First-year Strategies Students, 2007