Assessing IUPUI’s Diversity Scholars Research Program: Lessons Learned

Launched in 1997, the Diversity Scholars Research Program (DSRP) is an undergraduate performance-based scholarship program that aims to attract academically talented, underrepresented minority (URM) students to the IUPUI campus. The program provides financial assistance (tuition, academic stipend, conference travel, and some housing), mentoring, professional development, and research support for up to four years. As of summer 2017, 65 percent of scholars in good standing have graduated from IUPUI. Four-year graduation rates of DSRP scholars were more than double the average graduation rates for URM students with comparable GPAs at admission. New initiatives have been implemented that include changes to the admission and selection process, additional support to first-year students, and improvement of communication between all stakeholders.