June 13, 2001

Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858.

KU to expand successful minority retention program

LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas is expanding a successful School of Business minority retention program across the entire university.

Renate Mai-Dalton, associate professor of business who originated the Multicultural Business Scholars Program in 1992, will serve as overall director of the expanded effort while remaining a business faculty member.

"To be able to extend this remarkable program is a tribute to Renate Mai-Dalton, and to the vision of those great friends of the university whose generosity have made this possible," said KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway, who requested that the program be expanded.

The Multicultural Business Scholars Program was created to provide comprehensive mentoring and scholarship opportunities to students of color who were interested in becoming business majors. The program has succeeded in its goal of educating and graduating students who have entered the business world and become leaders in their communities.

The program's student retention rate is 85 percent, making it one of the most successful minority retention programs in the nation.

The expanded program will grow gradually with another two to four academic units participating each year for the next three years. Support for scholarships and activities will come from private gifts. While elements of the program will vary across the participating units, all will adopt the basic format developed for the business school's program.

The format includes:
 • direction by a tenured faculty member;
 • regular one-on-one meetings between the director and students;
 • monthly group meetings followed by attendance at cultural and arts events;
 • group events attended by family members, friends and donors;
 • a monthly meeting of faculty directors with Mai-Dalton.

"We are delighted that Professor Mai-Dalton has agreed to share the magic she has worked in the School of Business with the rest of the academic community," Provost David Shulenburger said in announcing the new effort. "The success of the program and the wonderful generosity of its supporters can certainly be replicated to great effect to a much wider group of students."