About The Academic Pipeline Project
This publication & database serves as a comprehensive resource guide for the following:
Parents & Families
College Students (undergraduate & graduate students)
Post Baccalaureates & Post docs
Faculty & College/University Administrators
The Academic Pipeline Project was created by Drs. Curtis D. Byrd and Rihana S. Mason to provide awareness of pathway programs that support individuals from diverse ethnic, gender, and economic groups. We are focusing on individuals that come from underrepresented groups at colleges and universities.
This guide illustrates initiatives that prepare individuals for the journey into college to careers in academe and limitless professions. This resource provides an in-depth discussion regarding these pipeline programs using the newly created THRIVE Index giving context to compare each program.
The THRIVE Index will highlight each program as it supports several levels of the pipeline (i.e. pre-collegiate (K-12), collegiate, graduate, post-doctoral, and/or faculty). Programs & Initiatives should complete the inventory for each one of your programs. Each Academic Pipeline Program will have the opportunity to upload a narrative about each program at the end of the inventory if there are details that are not captured by the inventory questions.
The Interactive GIS Mapping system and the database has been created in partnership and sponsored by the National Science Foundation & Morehouse College HBCU STEM-US Center.
Priority 1 Academic Initiatives
- Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs)
- Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)
- Pathway Programs
- Visitation Programs
- Enrichment Programs
- Bridge Programs
- Professional Development Training/Workshops
Priority 2 Multicultural Programming
- Celebrations of Diverse Population
- Formal/Informal Curricula
- Speaker Series/Lectures/Colloquia
- Student Organizations/Clubs
Priority 3 Policy
- Diversity Education Programming
- Leadership Training
- Recruitment & Hiring
- AA & EEO
Defining Diverse Groups
The database contains programs that will support diverse groups along their journey. We connect diverse diversity to social identity characteristics. These include characteristics related to race and ethnicity, sex, gender and gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, country of origin, language, disability, emotional health, socio-economic status, veteran status and affiliations that are based on cultural, political, religious or other identities. Adapted from https://diversity.wisc.edu/dip/faqs/
The STEM-US Database uses the THRIVE INVENTORY TOOL (Byrd & Mason, 2020) to create profiles for each program/initiative. The THRIVE inventory is copyrighted by Curtis D. Byrd and Rihana S. Mason, 2020 (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/5BDJN).
THRIVE is an acronym that stands for:
T – Type of Program
H – History of Program
R –Research Preparation/Routines, Roles, & Responsibilities
I – Inclusion and Identity
V – Voice given to students, faculty and staff/employees
E – Expectation (what participants will receive and program outcomes).
If your program supports several levels of the pipeline (i.e. pre-collegiate (K-12), collegiate, graduate, post-doctoral and/or faculty), please complete the inventory for each one of your programs. You will have the opportunity to upload a narrative about each program at the end of the inventory if there are details that are not captured by the inventory questions. Completion of the survey will take approximately 20-25 minutes. You will be able to upload any existing documents to support your responses as well.
What is a sponsored award?
A sponsored award is an active funded proposal that is supported by your college/ university or other funding source.
What is considered a program or initiative?
A program or initiative is an organized system with staffing, a budget and a plan of academic or non-academic activities that are done in order to achieve a specific result (i.e., academic or multicultural) for students, faculty, or staff. Examples of program/initiatives(s) include: Upward Bound, Leadership Alliance, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.
What is multicultural programming?
Multicultural programming are social, educational, or community occasions, events, celebrations or activities that can be a one-time or reoccurring in occurrence. Examples of an event include: Alpha Kappa Alpha STEM Career Day, Black in Psych Week, Black & Queer in STEM events.
What is a policy?
A policy is a regulation or law that dictates the governance of individuals, groups, programs, events, exhibits, activities, resources, research endeavors and departments. Examples of a policy include: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681 & its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R Part 106) and ADA Employee Accommodation Policy.