The third time is a charm for area students -- just as charming and exciting, that is, as the first two times that the U.S. Department  of Agriculture granted awards to South Mountain Community College for Agriculture and Bioscience Education.

A $290,000 Expanding Undergraduate Bioscience Engagement Track (eUBET) grant from the USDA, CSREES Higher Education HSI Office has been approved (July 10, 2008), the college has learned. The South Mountain Community College Division of Math, Science and Engineering (MSE) submitted the grant proposal that will run for three consecutive years.

This is the third USDA grant awarded to SMCC for biosciences in the past five years according to Helen Smith, MSE chairperson. The  grant provides means for students to conduct biotechnology research projects and publicly present their works. Students in advanced eUBET biotechnology classes conduct rigorous genomics research by mapping genes and publishing.

eUBET is also designed to increase minority-student access to bioscience education and employment; to overcome barriers for high schools to teach biosciences; to provide minority (and non-minority) students access to biosciences early in their academic careers; to mentor and direct students to produce competitive  bioscience projects; to upgrade teacher bioscience skills, confidence, and curricula; and to channel students into bioscience careers and advanced studies.

The eUBET grant will provide partner high schools with a customized package of resources that may include: bioscience laboratory instruments, bioscience training for high school science teachers, college bioscience curricula for the high schools to teach dual enrollment bioscience courses through SMCC, science lab-technician support, lab supplies, student research project materials, student paid internships, and science-fair fees.

eUBET high school partners include: Phoenix Bioscience High School, Tempe High School, Marcos de Niza High School, Mesa High  School's Biotechnology Academy, Corona Del Sol, Carl Hayden Community High School, and Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center. Sierra Linda, a  new high school opening in the Tolleson Union School District, may participate in the eUBET grant next year.

South Mountain Community College is at 7050 S. 24th St., just north of Baseline Rd. It is one of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges.