College Profile 2023

PATH TO SUCCESS

COSMIC program helps College of Science students flourish, stay at Clemson

I nara Devji likely would not still be a student at Clemson University without the COSMIC — College of Science Mentoring and Inclusion Collaborative — program. “Coming to a predominantly white institution, I felt really alone,” said Devji, a senior microbiology major of Hispanic and Pakistani descent. “My main reason for joining COSMIC was to find people who were like me so that I didn’t feel as alone in the big ocean of people that were different than me.” She had considered dropping out until she joined COSMIC. COSMIC, a national award-winning ecosystem of support for students in the College of Science, began in 2018. It matches incoming students with stu dent mentors from similar backgrounds and interests. Besides mentorship, the program includes study halls, ser vice-learning opportunities, an awards ceremony and more. SCIENCE in Living Color, de

first-generation college students, trans fer students, students with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ students. Faculty and staff liaisons who identify with at least one affinity group serve as a support system. “Students want to feel included. They don’t need silo groups only to go back into classrooms and still feel like the lone person,” said Sharetta Bufford, assistant director of recruitment and inclusive excellence for the College of Science and director of COSMIC. “Creating an eco system allows students to connect with others outside of their affinity groups while still being able to go back to their affinity groups to regain the energy they need to deal with people with whom they may not agree or share the same values. The whole point of COSMIC is the inclusivity aspect.” By helping students feel welcomed, respected and heard, COSMIC paves the way for success inside the classroom and out.

signed to support students from racial groups traditionally underrepresented in science fields, was COSMIC’s first affinity group. Next came Women in Science Defining Our Moments, known as WISDOM, designed to cre ate community and support for women pursuing science degrees. Since then, the program has added affinity groups for men, military and veteran students, Four-year graduation rates ➧ 90.5% COSMIC ➧ 71.2% Non-COSMIC Underrepresented minority student GPA ➧ 3.17 COSMIC ➧ 2.94 Non-COSMIC

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CLEMSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE | 2023 COLLEGE PROFILE