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The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) and its member institutions have embraced the concepts of diversity and multiculturalism in optometric education and in the profession. ASCO bases its diversity program on several assumptions including: (1) Greater diversity among health professionals is associated with improved access to care for our diverse society, greater patient choice and satisfaction, better patient-provider communication, and better educational experiences for all students, which will prepare them for the diverse communities they will serve in practice, (2) Diversity is good for optometric education and the profession, and (3) It is the right thing to do. ASCO completed the second phase of its ASCO/Vistakon Grant Program. The second phase is the Diversity Mini-Grant Program. The diversity mini-grants are designed to provide seed money for a specific project; it is limited to assisting schools/colleges of optometry with their long-term diversity /multicultural efforts. 2008 Optometric Education Diversity Mini-Grants The diversity mini-grants are designed to provide seed money for a specific program/project. They are limited to assisting schools/colleges of optometry with their long-term diversity/multicultural efforts. This is the third year ASCO has received funding from Vistakon for this priority program. Once again, the program/project must assist optometry schools in developing and implementing activities/programs that are designed to recruit and/or retain underrepresented minority students (see Diversity mini-grants application form), financially disadvantage, and first-generation college students into optometry. Programs may include but are not limited to summer bridge programs for undergraduate students, mentoring and guidance programs for first-year optometry students, and partnership with organizations, high schools, community colleges and undergraduate programs to promote optometry as a career among underrepresented groups. 2007 Diversity Mini-Grants Recipients
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