2022 Excellence in Physics Education Award Recipient: TEAM-UP: A Bold Initiative to Increase African American Students Earning Bachelor's Degrees on Physics and Astronomy

In 2017 the American Institute of Physics (AIP) commissioned a two-year task force (TEAM-UP) to examine the persistent underrepresentation of African American students earning bachelor's degrees in physics and astronomy. Data shows that African American students entering college with the interest, motivation, and pre-college preparation to major in physics and astronomy do not persist in our disciplines at the same rate as they persist in other quant-heavy sciences and engineering disciplines. In this talk we report on the background that led to AIP's commissioning the TEAM-UP task force study and give an overview of the findings and recommendations from the TEAM-UP study and report. The task force found that the reasons for this persistent underrepresentation are in large part due to a lack of investment by the physics community in providing these students with key support: 1) to develop a strong sense of belonging in the physics community, 2) to develop a sense of identity as a budding physicist or astronomer, 3) to become academically sophisticated learners in supportive and inclusive classroom and laboratory environments, and 4) to overcome financial and other social/psychological challenges. Research shows that such support can be critical in student persistence in the major. Creating an environment that promotes the success of African American undergraduates cannot be achieved by lone champions or an occasional welcoming course environment, but instead requires a coordinated shift in the culture of physics and astronomy departments supported by individuals, departments, universities, professional societies, and funding agencies.