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UCAR vice-president Harriet Barker introduced Fernando Diaz of Universidad Metropolitana in Puerto Rico (see accompanying article). UMET is one of six universities chosen by NSF for its Model Institutions for Excellence program, established to increase opportunities in science for underrepresented groups. UCAR is serving as a mentor institution for UMET, which has been invited to join AAP. Diaz described his university's ambitious plans for developing its science program, as well as some of the challenges they face. He also passed out a draft curriculum for a new bachelor's degree program in environmental science and asked for advice and comments from other affiliates. In the subsequent discussion of how UCAR and AAP might help UMET reach its goals, Diaz was presented with what Barker called a "cafeteria selection" of in-kind assistance and resources, including a variety of curricular materials, access to real-time weather data through Unidata, and visits by experts in various atmospheric science fields through the Visiting Scholars Program. (See the Spring 1995 UCAR Quarterly.)
David Smith (U.S. Naval Academy) reported on the October AAP meeting. One item from that meeting was a resolution to establish a UCAR Committee on Educational Outreach. The committee has been formed; members include Barker, Maurice Blackmon, David Fulker, Margaret LeMone, Beverly Lynds, William Pennell, Cynthia Schmidt, and Warren Washington (all of UCAR); Smith; Richard Clark (Millersville University of Pennsylvania); Stanley Gedzelman (City College of the City University of New York); and Cherilynn Morrow (University of Colorado at Boulder).