Taking it One Step at a Time: The Growth of a Program to Support the Doctorates of Tomorrow

First-generation, low-income students, and racially minoritized students face structural educational inequities, resulting in lower rates of graduate degree attainment compared to their counterparts [1].A Step to the Doctorate Institute (S2D) at Virginia Tech's Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (VT CEED) bridges the gap between undergraduate and graduate programs, boosting underrepresented minority engagement in graduate education by providing an opportunity to work with professionals in preparing for graduate school.The purpose of the exploratory study is to (a) provide a brief literature review on graduate education for underserved populations, (b) describe an overview of Virginia Tech's A Step to the Doctorate Institute and administrative efforts in identifying key program components, and (c) conclude with an assessment of program effectiveness in supporting student academic trajectories.