UMass Medical

Since UMass Dartmouth is part of a multi-campus university system, we enjoy a special relationship, including early provisional acceptance, with our sister campus at the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, MA.

Of note are several UMass Chan special summer programs for undergraduate students.

Research related programs

Sponsored by the Office of School Services, the Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity program is funded by either the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) UMass Chan Medical School Office of Research. Either program allows students to gain valuable research experience working with a principle investigator associated with UMass Medical.

Student research fellows spend 10-weeks during the summer working on a project, attending lectures, plus working and networking with all mentors, other students in the program, supported with a $4000 stipend, and offered housing, that is often heavily supported by the program. The goal of this program is to increase the number of applicants to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and attract under-represented, disadvantaged, or disabled students to careers in the biomedical field.

Eligibility is open to any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years of age.

While each applicant is evaluated carefully for eligibility, NIH funding is directed towards students who are generally

• Member of a racial or ethnic group under-represented in biomedical research (African American, Native American [Hawaiian and Alaskan], Portuguese, and Hispanic/Latino).
• Family meets criteria for disadvantaged (economic or educational) status. For example, economic disadvantage is associated with students whose family income meets the federal guidelines for low income (~ 1.5X the poverty rate) among other criteria. An example of an educational disadvantage is associated with students whose parents or guardians have not graduated from a four-year college (first generation college) or students who have graduated from high schools rated as low performing or having low-pass rates on standardized tests, such as the MCAS.
• Presently receive accommodations under the American With Disabilities Act For students who do not meet the above criteria but are acceptable candidates for the number of available positions, the program funding comes from the SURE program supported by the UMass Medical School.

Deadlines for completed applications, including all supporting documentation, is generally during early March. For more information and applications, students should visit the UMass Chan web site.

Medical School Preparation Program

The College Summer Enrichment program, is a four-week fully funded program for students interested in pursuing post-baccalaureate careers in the health professions, including medical school, and nursing.

Eligibility

• Applicants must have graduated from a Massachusetts high school or attend at a Massachusetts college or university.
• Current sophomores and juniors from under-represented OR disadvantaged backgrounds. Disadvantaged individuals include those from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds (i.e. first those who meet federal poverty guidelines or those who will be first-generation college graduates). Under-represented individuals include those groups under-represented in medicine, nursing, and biomedical professions.
• Students who have completed a minimum of eight (8) credit hours of Organic Chemistry and who have completed a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours of college work will receive priority consideration.

The deadline for completed applications, including all supporting material is generally March 15. For more information on this program visit the UMass Chan web site.