Program to Mirror CA Diversity
Hoping to develop an appreciation for ethnic diversity in its students and improve the retention and graduation rates of minorities at the school, the University of San Francisco is launching a new academic program.
The Martín-Baró Scholars Program—named for Ignacio Martín-Baró, S.J., one of seven Jesuit priests martyred in El Salvador in 1989—aims to build relationships between a multicultural mix of recipients while investing in them a strong sense of social justice and academic achievement. The program will be mostly financed by a $1 million grant from The James Irvine Foundation.
Students chosen for the program will be proportionally divided among the population groups that make up California’s multiethnic profile. Latino students—now California’s largest ethnic group—will represent the largest group involved, followed by Asian Americans, whites, and African Americans.
“We’ve made tremendous progress in attracting ethnic minority students, but we’re still not representative of the demographics of San Francisco and the state or even the country,” said Gerardo Marín, associate dean, College of Arts and Sciences. “If we’re going to train individuals to make a difference, we have to train all multicultural groups; we need to provide that multicultural perspective not just in curriculum but also in the student body.”
Although minority student retention rates at USF fluctuate from year to year, the graduation rates of underrepresented students tend to be lower on average than other groups. Studies of this national trend blame low levels of college preparation in students from poor public school districts, university environments ill-equipped to respond to students’ diverse needs, lack of role models, and a standard curriculum not attuned to students’ backgrounds or interests.
To counteract these problems, the Martín-Baró scholars will participate in an intensive preparation program two weeks before entering USF. During their first two years, participants are expected to take three core curriculum classes together and live on group floors in residence halls. Annual retreats and weekly reflection seminars will also be part of their studies, culminating in an international immersion program during the summer before their junior year. Faculty mentoring and special internships will also be part of the package.
“By creating a culturally diverse living/learning community students will benefit from the cultural richness that characterizes California and the U.S.,” Marín said. Courses will also incorporate a variety of ethnic perspectives, he said.
If the program is successful, it is hoped students will continue to rely on each other throughout their USF careers, forming an academic and social network that will keep them in school and on track for graduation.
The first 40 Martín-Baró scholars will arrive on campus next summer. Two more groups will be recruited for 2003 and 2004.
|
