Sustainability
A primary goal of the BUILD EXITO program was to sustain and institutionalize undergraduate biomedical research training that supported underrepresented students and researchers. In the second phase of EXITO, this sustainability included expanding grantmaking and fundraising, seeking new opportunities through leveraging the institutional infrastructure and relationships established through BUILD EXITO. As we worked to train a future generation of scientists that were representative of our diverse world, determining how to best sustain our work beyond the life of the grant across partnerships with EXITO Consortium partners and in our work with Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) was of critical importance.
Enhancement
The initial phase of the BUILD program supported the development of models for enhancing the diversity of the biomedical research workforce across a consortium of ten institutions. The second and final phase of the BUILD initiative included sites that showed significant potential in finishing their experiments in order to inform future diversity enhancement efforts at institutions across the country. EXITO seeked ways to improve program components and strengthen the program across the EXITO network to better support students.
Evaluation
BUILD EXITO remained committed to program evaluation and was continually gathering and analyzing data to assess the short and long-term outcomes of supporting biomedical science education for underrepresented students, faculty, and staff. Our program was engaged in a 15-year longitudinal study with yearly scholar surveys to test program efficacy, health and wellness of scholars, and the academic trajectory of students mentored and supported through the BUILD EXITO program. We seeked to better understand how training, mentoring, and research capacity interventions to enhance diversity could be most effective for the student populations that are underrepresented in the sciences.
Dissemination
Our program seeked to disseminate our program model and findings widely, sharing what we were learning in our efforts to enhance diversity in the biomedical workforce using many strategies. As a community, EXITO faculty, students and staff focused on sharing research findings and practical knowledge regarding implementation of the EXITO model through presentations at academic conferences and professional meetings, peer-reviewed publications, and other media platforms including videos and print pieces. You can read more about our publications on our Dissemination Page.
Strategies used to share models, lessons, findings, and materials included:
- Peer-reviewed publications: Produce manuscripts on research training for undergraduates historically underrepresented in biomedical science based on URISE at PSU interventions and data (1 per year)
- Academic conferences and professional meetings: Presentations and posters at selected disciplinary conferences (e.g., APHA, ASCB/EMBO) and relevant professional meetings such as Understanding Interventions Conference, Training and Workforce Development & Diversity (TWD) Program Directors Meeting, Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Biennial Conference, UNM Mentoring Institute Annual Conference (2 per year)
- Professional networks: Highlight program innovations and successes via newsletters, features, and meetings within relevant networks such as NIH’s Diversity Program Consortium (DPC), the BUILD Consortium, and the CTSA Education Consortium (2 per year)
- Educational associations: Leverage institutional membership for influence in Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) and Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) STEM Education Initiatives
- Dissemination materials: Create and make publicly accessible materials that aid in the dissemination of program components to other institutions, including modular curriculum, training videos, syllabi, program templates, and implementation tools
- Website resources: Feature all program dissemination products (publications, presentations, posters, materials) as well as all scholar research products on the program website to enhance visibility and accessibility
- Popular media: Promote URISE at PSU program and undergraduate research in general through websites, news media, university communications outlets (e.g., alumni magazine), and various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
- Consultation: Assist other institutions in implementing similar training models by offering advice and guidance, sharing materials, and conducting site visits