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As technology takes a prominent place in almost every aspect of society, the need for qualified science professionals has become acute. Corporations have a great need for highly imaginative, qualified technical personnel to manage their information systems, develop and improve electronic marketing, and to continue to make innovations that improve productivity. However, while the fields of science and engineering have steadily been increasing in stature and importance within society, participation by minority students has remained extremely low. At four-year colleges for example, American Indian enrollment statistics are around .04% of the total student population. Furthermore, 50% of these students drop-out within the first year. To combat this trend, SICS focuses on the most critical point in the educational pipeline, namely the transition from high school, community college or tribal college to a four-year institution. The most prevalent factor which contributes to the under representation of minorities in higher education is the widely known issue of poverty and its related social implications. To overcome this barrier, all fees for SICS students are covered by donations to the Institute. Averaging $2,750 per student, these costs include enrollment in UCI summer session, books and meals.
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