RECRUITMENT OF MINORITY-STUDENTS TO US EPIDEMIOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAMS

PURPOSE: African-, Hispanic-, and Native Americans are underrepresente d in the field of epidemiol including degree programs. As part of the assessment component of its mandate, the American College of Epidemiol ogy Committee on Minority Affairs conducted a survey of minority recru itment activities of U.S. epidemiology degree programs. METHODS: The s urvey, containing questions related to marketing activities, instituti onal infrastructure, financial support, academic offerings, and recept ive/supportive environment, was mailed to all programs identified in E pisource as offering epidemiology degrees. Separate responses were req uested concerning activities at the department and school levels. RESU LTS: Fifty-two completed questionnaires were received (response rate o f 79%). All but two institutions had at least one activity conducted b y either the department or the school. However, all activities were mo re common at the school-than at the department-level. Indeed, some act ivities [a written minority student recruitment plan (6% of department s and 52% of schools), personnel with minority recruitment responsibil ities (4% of departments and 73% of schools)] were almost exclusively school-sponsored, Although marketing-type activities were the most com mon minority recruitment tool used by departments, only 21% made visit s to minority schools, 17% visited other colleges specifically to recr uit minorities, and 12% produced materials targeted to ethnic/racial m inorities. Six percent of the departments and 19% of the schools offer ed financial support (grants, fellowships, scholarships) to almost all underrepresented minority students. CONCLUSIONS: Even though individu al epidemiology degree programs may not see a need for general recruit ment activities in order to maintain the size of their applicant peel, minority-specific recruitment activities should be undertaken to enha nce and diversify that pool. We recommend that epidemiology department s develop, adopt, and implement comprehensive written plans for the re cruit ment of underrepresented minority students into their programs. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.