North Texas Health Science Center Recognized for Minority Recruiting Efforts - biomedical student researchers - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, April 12, 2001

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Minority Access has named the University of North Texas Health Science Center a "Role Model Institution," recognizing its efforts in recruiting minority students. The company works with the National Institutes of Health's Office of Minority Research to identify institutions with an exemplary commitment to and success in producing minority biomedical student researchers.

"We designed creative strategies to reach new students, and they've been the key to recruiting minority students into studying science here," says Dr. Thomas Yorio, graduate school dean. "We encourage students from elementary school through their college years to enter science fields."

In the academic year 1999-2000, the graduate school was recognized as the leading state of Texas health science center based on the percentage of its minority enrollment. In the present entering class, 36 percent of the students are underrepresented minorities, almost equal to the 39 percent of Caucasian students.

In 1993, the graduate school opened with 66 students, including five Hispanics and one African American. This fall, 113 students were enrolled in the program, including 15 Hispanics and 11 African Americans.