Program Site Visits for HBCU/BSI Physics Departments
"EP3 reassured us that these [actions] really worked and made us more forward and involve undergrad in every activity we do."
- Padmaja Guggilla, Associate Dean for Student Success for the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences, at Alabama A&M University
EP3 conducted program site visits to seven HBCU and BSI institutions, funded by NSF, to support and learn from physics departments at HBCUs/BSIs as they work to increase their enrollment and graduation rates of Black students. The visits were conducted from Fall 2021 through Spring 2024 and used processes adapted from the EP3 Guide, including How to Serve as an Undergraduate Program Reviewer, How to Undertake and Program Review, Recruiting of Undergraduate Physics Majors, Retention of Undergraduate Physics Majors, and the Toolkit for Departments under Threat. Participating institutions were self nominated.
These visits were coordinated with the APS Committee on Minorities (COM). EP3 Site Visit teams consisted of three persons; an HBCU/BSI department chair, a current or former member of COM, and a representative from EP3 Leadership or EP3 Task Force. Site Visit Teams reviewed participating institution self-studies, attended a 1.5 site review, and wrote a report summarizing their findings during the site review and institution self-study.
- Build a department review team
- Review EP3 Guidance
- Produce a pre-site visit self study
- Plan and facilitate a 1.5 day site visit
- Develop an action plan based on the feedback of the EP3 Site Visit Team report.
- Provide 6 month and / or 1 year follow up meetings and / or reports with the project.
- Alabama A&M University
- Florida A&M University
- Georgia State University
- Morgan State University
- Prairie View A&M University
- South Carolina State University
- Texas Southern University
