One of the engagement goals for the Gifted Education Resource Institute (GERI) is to increase student diversity from within our talent development programs.  Below is information regarding the focus of specific diversity initiatives in our GERI programs.

DIGS GOALS: 

The Diversity Initiatives for Gifted Students seeks to diversify participation in GERI programs by

1. recruiting and providing scholarship support to students from low socioeconomic backgrounds and traditionally underrepresented minority groups (Native Americans, African Americans and Latino/as, and second language learners).
2. recruiting students who have abilities that are masked by other challenges, including emotional, learning or physical disabilities, or status as an international student or second language learner.

The Diversity Initiatives for Gifted Students seeks to provide quality services for diverse participants in GERI programs by       

• promoting  and supporting  talent development for gifted students who are members of groups traditionally underrepresented in gifted programs.
• providing professional development to GERI teaching staff related to diversity, social and emotional needs, and international collaboration.

The Diversity Initiatives for Gifted program seeks to inform the scholarly community through

• evaluation, research, and dissemination of DIGS efforts that increase understanding of diversity and giftedness and programming that appropriately addresses the educational and affective needs of diverse students.

DIGS MODEL: 

The Diversity Initiative for Gifted Students (DIGS) is helping us achieve our goals through the creation of a diversity recruitment model.  The model is designed to assist a school system identify students that can benefit from a talent development program.  Identified students are then provided with a scholarship to attend the GERI Summer Residential Programs. 

SCHOLARSHIPS: 

In the last five years the DIGS project has increased student diversity in GERI's Summer Residential Programs from less than 2% in 1998 to more than 20% in 2003.  The DIGS project has, to date, awarded 164 scholarships and has forged mutually beneficial relationships between GERI and two Indiana inner-city school systems.  As one student shared, "...thank you for your gift to me so that I could participate in this wonderful program.  Thanks to you, I have made friends, participated in numerous activities, and enjoyed learning in a talented class." 

DIGS DONORS: 

• Indiana Department of Education
• Gifted Education Resource Institute
• College of Education, Purdue University
• Davidson Foundation
• Tobias Foundation
• Royal Dutch / Shell Oil Company
• Indianapolis Public Schools
• Eli Lilly and Company, Tippecanoe Labs
•  
  Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
• Caterpillar