THE THIRD 90 NETWORK, A COLLABORATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT UNDER-REPRESENTED STUDENTS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PURSUE CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

The Michigan Colleges Foundation (MCF) represents fourteen Michigan liberal arts colleges and promotes collective initiatives among its member institutions, which, in aggregate, represent the third largest institution of higher education in the state. The MCF Third 90 Network strives to prepare under-represented students for academic success at the college level, to expose them to opportunities in environmental and conservation fields, and to broaden their awareness of higher education options. The network connects high school students with mentors at the high school and college level, provides interdisciplinary field-based experiences, encourages collaboration, and provides summer employment and college scholarship opportunities.

The expanding network presently reaches over 200 10^th - 11^th grade students each year from eight collaborating private and public high schools in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Three Rivers, Michigan. Faculty and staff from five MCF institutions, representing the fields of geology, chemistry, biology and art, along with undergraduate mentors from their institutions, work with the students in several field days, in college laboratories, and at the high schools on projects that are presented to high school peers. Projects have included assessing pathways of nitrate into streams, monitoring invertebrate populations during reconnection of Belle Isle waterways to the Detroit River, studying photosynthesis rates of invasive species and documenting projects with photos and art. Students visit the institutions of collaborating college faculty to work in laboratories, and participate in programs on the general process of college application and tours of campus. Students visit two additional MCF institutions for similar programs. Several students are selected each term to return to the program as mentors. This summer, in partnership with local conservancies, we successfully piloted a summer jobs program for our students. Ongoing independent assessment suggests we are making progress toward our goals. The network is funded by generous contributions from several individuals, local foundations and corporations.