Posted on August 2, 2001 at 12:17 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — UAB will host 65 minority junior college students from the southeast United States as part of an NIH-funded program to increase the numbers of minorities in scientific fields. Jefferson State Community College is among the participants. The students will be on the UAB campus August 2-4.

The "Bridges to the Baccalaureate" program was begun in response to a need identified by NIH to improve links between junior colleges and four-year institutions. The program encourages the participation of minority students who may start their college careers in junior colleges to pursue careers in biomedical and behavioral science.

Recent data show that over half of the underrepresented minority college students in the United States are enrolled in associate degree-granting institutions. At UAB, the students will present the results of their summer research projects.