Some of the Institute’s most influential work has come through programs that are now concluded at Boise State. This page honors those legacy programs and the ways they shaped student pathways, faculty practice, and the Institute’s identity.
These programs are not current opportunities, but they continue to inform how the Undergraduate Research and Mentoring Institute supports students, mentors, and partners today.
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) at Boise State
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) supported students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in STEM through research, mentoring, and community-building opportunities.
While this local LSAMP phase is now concluded at Boise State, its legacy continues in the students, alumni, and faculty whose pathways were shaped by the program. Highlights of the Boise State LSAMP phase included:
- Connecting LSAMP-eligible students with mentored summer research experiences.
- Providing stipends so students could commit meaningful time to research with faculty mentors.
- Supporting students as they presented their work at research conferences, including state-wide events.
- Building networks among students, faculty, and staff committed to inclusive STEM education.
Today, the U.R.M. Institute carries forward this legacy by continuing to prioritize mentored research experiences and targeted support for students who have been historically excluded from STEM opportunities.
Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Fellowship at Boise State
The Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Fellowship supported graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds in pursuing and completing advanced degrees in STEM. Funded through the national LSAMP program, the BD Fellowship helped remove financial, social, and structural barriers that can make graduate education harder to access and complete.
Key features of the BD Fellowship included:
- Financial support to reduce work and financial pressures during graduate study.
- A close-knit community of fellows who could support each other’s progress.
- Individual advising and mentoring from faculty and staff.
- Connections to a broader LSAMP network focused on diversifying the scientific workforce.
Although the BD Fellowship phase at Boise State is now concluded, its approach to holistic support, community, and mentoring continues to influence how the Institute thinks about cohorts, advising, and pathways to graduate study.
Micron Academy for Inclusive Leadership
The Micron Academy for Inclusive Leadership was a student-centered initiative that combined leadership development, mentoring, and community projects focused on fairness, access, and belonging. Hosted in the U.R.M. Institute’s portfolio during the IFITS era, the Micron Academy engaged students in year-long programming designed to help them become inclusive leaders and changemakers in their communities.
Core elements of the Micron Academy included:
- A year-long leadership and learning experience for selected student fellows.
- Projects that partnered students with community, government, and organizational partners.
- One-on-one mentoring relationships with Micron professionals.
- A focus on building skills, confidence, and networks for inclusive leadership.
While the Micron Academy is no longer an active program at Boise State, its emphasis on student leadership, community partnership, and mentoring remains part of the Institute’s DNA.