Overview

Science Bound is a partnership between Purdue University, the Indianapolis Public Schools and the Indianapolis business community. It is designed to work with low income students and help prepare them for careers in Engineering, Technology, Science, Agriculture and Math Science. Students are invited to join the program at the end of the fifth grade. IPS students must maintain a 3.1 GPA and attend 75% of Science Bound activities. At IPS, there are four major components:

1. After school workshops and activities
2. Parent Program
3. Summer Camps and Internships
4. Other projects and Workshops

Component #1: After School Workshops and Activities The after school workshops and activities are held twice a month. Mentor teachers from the various schools serve as the key point person for their school. Projects and workshops vary from school to school and grade to grade. Past after school activities have included forensic exercises, chemistry labs, robotics projects, guest speakers from Industry and Purdue University and tutoring. A number of the schools have teamed up with Science Bound Industrial partners for company-led projects (i.e. Rolls Royce works with Arsenal Tech to build solar cars, Raytheon works with Harshman Middle School to build catapults and provide company tours. Purdue University School of Veterinary Science has also established a Science Bound Vet Club at Crispus Attucks in Indianapolis.

Component #2: Parent Program Parents meet with industry professionals, learn about STEM career opportunities, and are kept abreast of Science Bound program activities, educated on what is expected of their child and kept abreast of how they can be better advocates for their children. A Parent Advisory Council works Purdue staff to establish agenda items and run the meetings. The Parent Program meets the first Tuesday of each month during the school year. At the end of each spring semester, a Parent Retreat is held at Purdue University. Also, parents are invited to attend the annual Purdue Christmas Show.

Component #3: Summer Camps and Internships Summer camps are offered to Science Bound students who have maintained a 3.1 GPA, and a "B" average in Science and Math courses. Each year, 80 students or more participate in our summer camp, math workshop, internship or research opportunities. These camps include:

• Science Explorers Camp for rising 7th and 8th graders.
• Biology, Vet or other camp opportunities for rising 9th, 10th & 11th graders in good standing.
• Math courses are also offered to strengthen student analytical and problem solving skills
• Rising 12th graders have opportunities for Internships with a participating industrial partners (Lilly, Rolls Royce, Shield Sexton, Applied Engineering, LaQuis, Bowen Engineering or Environmental Labs) or to conduct research with a professor at Purdue.

Component #4: Other Projects and Workshops Every year, Science Bound features many other exciting events: Celebration Dinner/Reception (each September), Purdue field trips (including Space Day, Bug Bowl, Engineering/Science day, Shadowing days). Each February, Indianapolis Corporations sponsor a Career Day designed to educate students of professional career options in different industries. Company tours and other special projects are also included under this category.

Countdown to Purdue: To ease the transition from high school to college, graduating seniors meet monthly at the downtown Marion County library. These prospective Boilermakers prepare for the professional world. During these sessions, students connect with an array of professionals, learn about Purdue resources, get help with scholarship, financial aid and Purdue applications.

Once students have graduated from high school and are accepted to Purdue University they are invited to participate in the Academic Boot Camp to help them prepare for college. At Purdue, freshmen receive orientation and receive support necessary to help them during the adjustment process. Purdue Science Bound students must attend scholarship meetings and turn in Grade Checks each semester.Science Bound pays for tuition and books for eight semesters, offers tutors, and provides mentors for freshmen. Students are required to maintain a 2.4 GPA.

Stats: Science Bound has approximately 350 students at IPS ranging from grades 6-12. We currently have 16 of thirty one students who have just graduated scheduled to attend Purdue in the Fall of 2011. During the past three years, 88 IPS students have successfully completed the Science Bound program. 85 of the 88 students have gone on to college. 40 of the 85 students that have gone on have matriculated to Purdue. With this year's group of student we currently have 70 students at Purdue. This past academic year, our first group of Science Bound students graduated from Purdue University (five Science Bound students).

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History

During the summer of 2002, a group of 66 students from the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) embarked on a journey that would lead them to college. The vehicle was called Science Bound, the brainchild of Martin C. Jischke, President Emeritus of Purdue University. With the help of individuals like Bob Bowen, CEO of Bowen Engineering, the Purdue Science Bound Program has taken off. Simply put, Science Bound is a partnership between Purdue University, the Indianapolis Public Schools, and the Indianapolis business community.

The goal of the Science Bound Program is to nurture and mentor underrepresented students from 6th to 12th grade in preparation for future careers in science, engineering, technology, agriculture, and mathematics/science education. The students participate in after-school academic enrichment activities and field trips, including anthropological digs, visits to the Indianapolis Symphony, career fairs, and summer camps sponsored by Purdue colleges. Science Bound students also complete internships with Purdue professors or Indianapolis businesses, many of whom also provide scholarship funding.

Students who successfully complete the five-year program receive a full four-year tuition scholarship to Purdue University. Because most of the students are the first in their families to attend college, any enrollment in higher education is considered a success story.

On November 11, 2005, former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson honored Science Bound with the excellence in education award. The award is an indication that others recognize the significance of the program. Also in 2005, the Purdue North Central campus began a college bound program based on the Science Bound model.

Over the years the excitement of the program has been building, and in August 2007, 27 graduates of the Science Bound program began their college careers as freshmen at Purdue University. Another 250 students will continue in the Science Bound program at IPS. Finally, those involved with Science Bound are excited to continue under the tutelage of Purdue President France A. Córdova. The future is bright as Science Bound moves to the next level.

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Strategic Goals

Goal 1:

Increase to 30 the number of IPS students per year who will study science, engineering, and technology at Purdue. (During the baseline years of 2001-03, an average of 15 IPS students per year began studies in these areas.)

Goal 2:

Retain and enroll at Purdue 50 percent of the students who enter Science Bound as 7th graders.

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Contact Us

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Science Bound Main Office

Materials Science and Electrical Engineering (MSEE), Suite 386
501 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Main: 765.494.0018
Toll-Free: 1.800.276.1866
Fax: 765.494.3200

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Staff

Purdue University Staff

Dr. G. Christine Taylor Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion 765.494.6969 diversity@purdue.edu		Wesley Campbell Director of Science Bound wesleyl@purdue.edu		Derrick Williams Student Success Coordinator 765.494.3556 dwilliams@purdue.edu
Amber Lloyd Student Intern 765.494.0018 lloyda@purdue.edu		Drew Hopkins Web Developer 573.253.1435 dhopkins@purdue.edu

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Representatives

Jack Shoaf

Science Facilitator and Science Bound Project Manager
317.226.4841
shoafj@ips.k12.in.us

Sue Becker

Science Facilitator
317.226.3527
beckers@ips.k12.in.us

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