MISSION
The mission of Georgia Tech's FOCUS Program is:
- To attract the most qualified undergraduate students
- To increase the awareness of graduate study and careers in academia
- To encourage the pursuit of a graduate degree and provide assistance and support
Visionary planners in education, industry, government, and the military are concerned that unless partnerships and networks are created to improve educational opportunities for minorities, the country's quality of life will be jeopardized. Constantly shifting demographics show that in the years ahead, minorities will comprise the fastest growing population within the workforce and the elementary and secondary school systems. The future of the nation depends on the academic progress of minorities in advanced studies and professional schools, particularly in mathematics, engineering, and the sciences.
While the percentage of minorities receiving advanced degrees has shown steady growth in the last decade, fewer than 5 percent are recipients of advanced degrees in engineering and science. The problem? As the nation's economy becomes increasingly driven by research and technology, minority students will severely limit their career choices if they do not seek master's and doctoral degrees in these fields. This, in turn, will lead to critical shortages of talent in the scientific and technological communities.
The Georgia Institute of Technology, realizing this predicament, long ago began implementing programs to encourage diversity throughout its undergraduate and graduate programs. FOCUS, established in 1992, is just one of these programs. Held annually during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, FOCUS is designed to increase minority student awareness of the benefits and necessity of obtaining a graduate degree. Undergraduate students from across the nation come to Georgia Tech to learn about its academic programs and campus life. While students are encouraged to pursue their advanced degrees at Georgia Tech, the hope is that FOCUS will at least inspire students to attend graduate school regardless of the university they choose.