Preparing for Graduate School

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas will welcome 30 undergraduate interns from 22 colleges and universities to participate in the 2006 George Washington Carver Project, beginning May 21 and running through July 1.

The Carver Project gives prospective graduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) the opportunity to work directly with a UA faculty mentor and gain exposure to post-graduate preparation. Students will be introduced to various aspects of graduate study, including standardized test preparation, research and presentation skills and the graduate application and funding process.

“For the eighth consecutive year, the university has the distinct privilege of welcoming some of the best and brightest young researchers as part of the George Washington Carver Project,” said Collis Geren, dean of the Graduate School. “The program has experienced significant growth since 1997, and this year we will welcome the largest class ever.”

The Carver Project was originally designed and implemented in 1997 by Willyerd Collier from the Office of Affirmative Action. That first year two students from Southern University completed internships in Bumpers College. This year’s group includes the project’s first Hispanic student, and nearly two dozen institutions are participating in the program. Fourteen university departments will be hosting the Carver interns: agriculture, biological & agricultural engineering, biology, business, chemical engineering, chemistry, computer science and computer engineering, drama, education, electrical engineering, English, mechanical engineering, music and social work.

“The George Washington Carver Project is only the beginning for diversifying the graduate student population at the U of A,” said Johnny D. Jones, assistant dean for recruitment and retention and director of the Office of Graduate Recruitment. “The program should be embraced by all departments throughout the university. Institutional support of programs like the Carver Project will enhance the overall academic experience at the U of A.”

Students selected to participate in the Carver Project must have at least 60 hours of coursework completed at their undergraduate institutions, and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. They must also attend a partnership institution.

This year’s participating institutions are Alcorn State University, Bennett College, Dillard University, Huston-Tillotson University, Jackson State University, Langston University, Lincoln University, Mississippi Valley State University, New Mexico Highlands University, North Carolina A&T University, Philander Smith College, Prairie View A&M University, Southern University and A&M College, Spelman College, Tennessee State University, Texas Southern University, Tougaloo College, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Texas-Pan American, Wiley College, Winston-Salem State University and Xavier University.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities are public and private post-secondary institutions founded before 1964 with the express mission of educating African Americans. There are currently 105 such institutions located primarily in the southeastern United States. For more information on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, visit the U.S. Department of Interior’s Web site at http://www.doi.gov/hrm/black.html.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is a national educational association that represents colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the United States (including Puerto Rico), Latin America and Spain. The association has 193 member Hispanic-serving institutions located in 11 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. For more information on Hispanic-serving institutions, go to http://www.chci.org/chciyouth/resources/hispanicserving.htm.

The Carver Project was named for the renowned educator and agricultural researcher George Washington Carver. Carver was born on the Moses Carver plantation in Diamond, Mo., about 1864, and was responsible for numerous advances in horticulture and botany. Carver is known best for his discovery of more than 300 uses for peanuts and hundreds more uses for soybeans, pecans and sweet potatoes. He also developed a method of alternating soil-depleting crops like cotton and tobacco with soil-enriching crops like soybeans and peas. The method, known as crop rotation, is still used by many farmers today.

Carver is also credited with numerous improvements to adhesives, axle grease, bleach, buttermilk, chili sauce, fuel briquettes, ink, instant coffee, linoleum, mayonnaise, meat tenderizer, metal polish, paper, plastic, pavement, shaving cream, shoe polish, synthetic rubber, talcum powder and wood stain. Only three patents were ever issued to Carver.

“The Carver Project is named for a true pioneer of agricultural chemistry who was raised less than 80 miles away in southwest Missouri,” said Bob Smith, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We are honored to see these gifted students from our neighboring institutions participating in this growing program and look forward to assisting in their research endeavors while here at the University of Arkansas.”