Bridging the pathways to PhD programs for Cal-State and Underrepresented Students

Cal-Bridge is an NSF funded scholarship program to close the gap between Under-Represented Minority (URM) and Women in Physics and Astronomy during the critical transition phase between undergraduate to graduate school. As of 2017, URM earns 13\% of Bachelors in Physics which is already a gap to URM’s population of 30\% in USA. The representation worsens at the PhD level where it drops to 6\% in Physics. The program supports Cal-State University students from their junior year to their 1st year in a graduate program through strong academic, social, financial support and mentorship. From 2013-2019 Cal-Bridge has awarded 59 scholarships, of the 33 students who have graduated with Bachelors, 27 students enter into PhD programs. Cal-Bridge Scholars are presentative of CSU students population with 70\% from URM and 42\% women. We will highlight how Cal-Bridge has already made a substantial dent in the URM and Women in Physics and Astronomy gap as seen in the October 2019 issue of Physics Today. The program also note an increased visibility and improved the attitude towards physics and astronomy courses at Cal-State campuses.