Long-Running Grants Produce Over 40 Years of Student Support for Successful Completion of PhD Programs
2019 - Cal State LA – The MORE Programs is celebrating 45 years of consecutive RISE funding and 40 years of MARC funding. The RISE (Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement) program is the longest continuously funded grant program at Cal State LA. It began in 1973 by Dr. Lloyd Ferguson, who became the first director at Cal State LA whose program was the first in the Nation awarded west of the Mississippi River. The campus’ MARC Program (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) is the longest continuously funded MARC program in the Nation. Both National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded programs have made significant contributions and impact on our campus, as they help train and support students from historically underrepresented communities who are often first-generation college graduates and continue to become first-generation PhD graduates. Former students can be found across our Nation as deans, professors, and research scientists in biochemical/biotech industry, and practitioners in the medical and dental professions. Both programs have now produced more underrepresented minority students in PhD than UCLA.
A two-day anniversary celebration took place Friday April 26 and Saturday April 27, 2019. The event was held at the Almansor Court facility in the City of Alhambra from 12 - 6 pm on Friday and 12-7 pm on Saturday. The celebration highlighted student achievement and featured distinguished speakers, discussion panels, student research posters, and provided networking opportunities.