Impact

KEYS Impact

BUILDING A PIPELINE OF TALENT INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AND TRAINING A PREPARED STEM WORKFORCE

The KEYS program strives to increase the talent and diversity of students pursuing STEM degrees and careers, and to retain students to our in-state public universities and the Arizona workforce in high percentages.

KEYS aims to engage and empower students to explore their passions for scientific discovery while advancing their academic, professional, and personal goals.

KEYS IMPACT 2007 - 2024

2019 KEYS Cohort

97% KEYS ALUMNI

Who have graduated high school, are currently attending or have attended college with most pursuing STEM degrees.

KEYS Impact Lab

100% KEYS ALUMNI

Assured admission to the University of Arizona W.A. Franke Honors College upon admission to the university.

KEYS Impact Lab

60% KEYS ALUMNI

Chose to stay in Arizona for college, with the majority of those choosing to attend the University of Arizona. 

60% KEYS ALUMNI

Are from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented/underserved in STEM degrees/careers.

222 UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FACULTY

Have served as KEYS mentors.

109 ARIZONA
HIGH SCHOOLS

Represented among KEYS alumni.

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WHAT KEYS MEANS TO STUDENTS

AUGMENTING CLASSROOM LEARNING

KEYS interns not only gain experience in interdisciplinary bioscience, biomedical science, biostatistics, biomedical engineering, data science, or environmental health research, but also train in biotechnology skills, science literacy, ethics, and communications that they typically wouldn't learn in the classroom.
In order to become leaders of tomorrow, today's students need determination, curiosity, and a mindset that embraces teamwork, creativity, problem solving, and emotional competence. These are all capabilities reinforced through the KEYS experience.
 

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WHAT KEYS MEANS TO ARIZONA

BUILDING A PIPELINE OF DIVERSE STEM TALENT

KEYS recruits and attracts the best and the brightest from the state's many diverse communities to the University of Arizona for the experience of a lifetime. Through KEYS, interns will learn and grow, and gain the experience, skills, and conviction that will allow them to thrive in a rapidly changing world. KEYS provides many incentives for these promising students to stay in Arizona for college, and beyond.
IMPACT

THE PROCESS

Prior to engaging in research, KEYS interns are immersed in a one-week crash-course in bioscience and data science techniques, lab safety training, and the foundations of science literacy to ensure they have the base knowledge necessary to begin their assigned projects.

In weeks 2-6, leading University of Arizona researchers and lab staff/students mentor their assigned intern in the laboratory. At the close of the program, KEYS interns present what they’ve learned and experienced to friends, family, and the academic community at a research showcase.
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