USC, the University of Florida, and Clemson form the South East Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (SEAGEP). AGEP is a nationwide program funded by the National Science Foundation. This program is designed to be a long-term, comprehensive professional development program to produce underrepresented minority faculty in science and engineering.

AGEP is not primarily graduate student financial support. It is a total program to ensure the retention and success of the students.

All minority PhD students are considered members of SEAGEP and are invited to participate in the many programs and support services offered by the alliance. Mentoring, academic support programs, teaching experiences, and travel assistance to professional meetings are program strategies that support students as they move along the path to the doctoral degree. Students are encouraged to form study groups and supportive relationships with the other members of their cohort.

Ten fellowships per year will be selected through a competitive application process. In addition to involvement in the opportunities available to all students, fellowship recipients will receive stipends, tuition waivers, travel assistance, and materials/supplies support. These students will also attend regularly scheduled meetings with program managers in order to monitor student progress and foster a community feeling among group members. For more information ...

Program Components for all graduate students:
Peer and Faculty Mentoring: From the beginning of graduate school, students are assigned to a faculty advisor as well as to a PhD student who will serve as a peer mentor. This mentoring relationship is maintained throughout the program. As the cohort moves through the program, they will in turn be assigned to a mentoring relationship with a new program participant.

Seminar and Workshop Series: students participate in workshops/seminars that address topics such as research laboratory management, funding opportunities, and building communications skills.

Conference Participation: All students have the opportunity to apply for funds to attend a discipline specific or professional development conference. Students can participate through either a presentation or poster session at a national meeting, which will continue their professional development and preparedness to enter academia.

Program Components for undergraduate students:
Recruitment and training of high quality undergraduates is key to the success of SEAGEP. Therefore, students will be targeted during their undergraduate careers to assist in preparation for graduate studies and increase their competitiveness.

Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates: During this program, students participate in a seminar series, industry tours and communication workshops. Seminars include student panels discussing topics including what to expect from graduate school, how to chose a graduate program and how to apply. At the conclusion of the program, students turn in a research paper and make an oral presentation to help them improve their oral and written communications skills.

Campus Visitation: Students attend workshop on campus at the lead institutions during which they participate in laboratory tours, seminars on practical issues involved in preparing for graduate school, and meet with representatives from the departments that they are interested in to discuss prerequisites. They also meet with minority graduate students.

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