The Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, is a resource for graduate students in science and social science fields who are underrepresented in their disciplines with respect to socioeconomic background (e.g., first-generation college students), gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, and physical disability. AGEP's primary goals are:

• To increase significantly the number of underrepresented minorities obtaining doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, and in the social, behavioral and economic sciences (SBE)
• To enhance the preparation of underrepresented minorities for faculty positions in academia

Wayne State's AGEP develops programs that support these goals and strives to engage students in these activities. AGEP workshops have provided mentoring in areas such as successful dissertation and grant writing, getting published, CV preparation, the job search and hiring process. Conferences have provided students opportunities for professional development, networking and presenting their research.

Monthly interdisciplinary learning community meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month and cover a range of topics including preparing for presentations (trainees have an opportunity to practice their presentations in these meetings); how to find and select a mentor; discussions about racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic identities and how they influence academic trajectories; and psychosocial strengths for succeeding in academia. 

AGEP alliances

Wayne State's AGEP program is one of five graduate schools at major research universities in Michigan that have joined together and, focused on STEM fields, formed the Michigan AGEP Alliance: University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University and Michigan Technological University. In addition, Wayne State joined with University of Michigan, Michigan State University and City University of New York  focused on SBE fields  to form the CUNY/MAA Alliance. These institutions cooperate to present workshops, conferences and programs furthering the recruiting, retention and mentoring goals of AGEP.

Who is eligible to participate in AGEP?

Domestic students working on doctoral degrees in STEM fields and/or SBE sciences who are in population groups underrepresented in these fields (e.g., African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders). While the major focus of the AGEP Program is to support graduate students from underrepresented groups, all students are welcome to participate in AGEP activities and events. Students in the WSU STEM and SBE programs listed below are eligible for select AGEP activities. However, students in other disciplines are also welcome to attend the AGEP learning community meetings. 

Frequently asked questions