Minority students benefit from mentoring programs

Area of Science:

• Radiologic Sciences
• Higher Education
• Student Recruitment

Background:

• Attracting minority students to radiologic sciences is a challenge.
• Mentorship is a proposed strategy to improve minority representation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a minority mentoring program for pre-radiologic science students.
• To evaluate the program's effectiveness for recruitment and retention.

Main Methods:

• A case study of a mentoring program at a Midwestern university.
• Program involved ten minority radiologic science students during the 1991-92 academic year.

Main Results:

• The mentoring program engaged ten minority students.
• Preliminary findings suggest mentoring is a viable option for minority recruitment and retention.

Conclusions:

• Mentoring programs can potentially address the specific needs of minority students in radiologic sciences.
• This approach may enhance diversity within the profession.