The ADVANCE Program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) with the express purpose of "increasing the participation of women in the scientific and engineering workforce through the increased representation and advancement of women in the academic sciences and engineering careers."

[taken from http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/advance/]

To meet this goal, the NSF ADVANCE Program provides award opportunities for both individuals and organizations. With each of the ADVANCE awards, NSF seeks to support new approaches to improving the climate for women in the U.S. academic institutions and to facilitate women's advancement to the highest ranks of academic leadership. UMBC recieved an Institutional Transformation 5 Year Award in October, 2003.

To see what has happened so far with the ADVANCE Program at UMBC, please download our poster.