Refugees Exploring the Foundations of Undergraduate Education in Science

Photo courtesy of University of Utah Marketing & Communications

In 2012, the Center for Science and Mathematics Education (CSME) launched the REFUGES program at the University of Utah.  REFUGES includes an afterschool program and bridge program that address:

• The under-representation of women, minorities, refugees, non-native English speakers, and economically disadvantaged students in STEM disciplines
• The academic weaknesses that refugee youth face in the Utah school system due to placement in grade levels that are not suitable to their educational backgrounds.

The REFUGES program framework is based on university-community collaborations that include college students, community organizations, schools, churches, and parents. We seek to build a full-service approach that provides education activities, social services, and access to higher education.