[bioundgrd] FW: URM org for BE + Bio

[Joshua Stone]

From: Abena D Peasah <apeasah at mit.edu>
Subject: URM org for BE + Bio


​​Hello,



I'm Abena Peasah, a senior majoring in bioengineering. This summer, I've been working to create an organization for underrepresented minorities in the biology & bioengineering departments at MIT. I've been looking for more ways to advertise to students in the biology department.  I've attached two documents with more information on our goals, events, and structure. I'm also happy to answer any questions.



Thanks,



Abena P.


SUBE: Society of Underrepresented Biologists and Biological Engineers

Overview
Over the past two months, students in the bioengineering department have been working to create an organization for minority students in biology and bioengineering. We are SUBE: the Society of Underrepresented Biologists and Biological Engineers (pronounced soo-bay, meaning ‘rise' in Spanish). SUBE aims to empower underrepresented minority students in the biological and bioengineering departments at MIT by furthering their academic, social, and professional prospects and cultivating a community where diversity and inclusion are necessary and appreciated. If you are interested, please join our slack (https://join.slack.com/t/sube-mit/shared_invite/zt-fx96syl2-PD8Ti1Ugh~fwTHJajVxyGA), and email apeasah at mit.edu to join the mailing list sube at mit.edu.

Details

  *   Goals:
     *   Increase the retention of underrepresented and underserved students in bioengineering and biology
     *   Cultivate a community where diversity and inclusion are necessary and appreciated
     *   Further the academic, social, and professional prospects for URM students
  *   Members: underrepresented minority students in fields related to biology/bioengineering
  *   Executive board positions<https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ltsUA29thtH0czhd1x3d1xTag_yMIVp0hNlC6-yeOU/edit?usp=sharing> (all open): Graduate chair, undergraduate chair, secretary, treasurer, external liaison, and departmental representatives
  *   Types of events:
     *   Networking with biotech companies
     *   Professional development workshops
     *   Faculty talks
     *   Pset nights
  *   Support:
     *   Funding for conferences
     *   Advertisement of opportunities such as internships, scholarships, fellowships, fly-ins, and REUs, especially those meant for URMs.

Outline of Fall Semester events (online)

  *   September
     *   Welcome to campus - mixer/intro event for URMs in BE, getting to know the sophomores
     *   Faculty talks - BE, bio, other depts too.
     *   Advertise Laureates and Leaders to the sophomores
  *   October
     *   Mixers with biotech companies (UG+G)
     *   Pset + work nights? (recurring)
  *   November
     *   CourseRoading - helping students decide what classes to take in the spring semester (UG)
     *   Game night/casual mixer - all, + faculty/staff
     *   Advertise opportunities (ex: REUs, summer programs) that have deadlines in winter/January.
     *   Professional development workshop?

Outline of Spring Semester events (likely online)

  *   Feb
     *   Mixers with biotech companies (UG+G)
     *   Spring semester welcome, undergrads now on campus
  *   March
     *   Faculty talk from a prof who teaches a high traffic undergrad class (UG+G)
     *   Pset + work nights (recurring)
     *   Professional development workshop
  *   April
     *   Fellowships talk - coordinate with fellowships office
  *   May
     *   CourseRoading for freshmen interested in BE (UG)




SUBE exec board positions, as of 7/26

  *   Two chairs, graduate and undergraduate: act as co-presidents, interface with the Course 20 department, create events, and act as the official faces of SUBE.
  *   Secretary: keep records of meetings (notes, dates), send emails, keep track of organization event calendar
  *   Treasurer: responsible for budgeting, supporting students in applying for departmental/external funding, conference funding
  *   External Liaison: connect with biotech companies, work with departments to organize faculty talks and other events, coordinating with other organizations when necessary, recruit members
  *   Departmental representatives for each department if possible (not necessarily an exec board position)
     *   Departmental representatives could vary from year to year, based on makeup of members
     *   Responsibilities would depend on the department.
        *   For example, Course 20 has slots for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in meetings on the curriculum.
     *   These roles can separate from the exec board, but if there are not enough candidates, they may be absorbed back into the responsibilities of the exec board.
     *   Fewer hours per week than the exec board


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