What is CAPS?

• This program provides a very special opportunity for ten incoming Colby students who have traditionally been underrepresented in the sciences to experience the active, hands-on nature of the sciences at Colby. You would engage with Colby faculty and staff in academic, social, and independent research activities constructed specifically to help you thrive in your first-year science courses and get the most out of your Colby education.

• African American, Native American, Hispanic, and first-generation college students are eligible for the CAPS program.  Talented, motivated students who would benefit from additional intensive science and math preparation are encouraged to apply.  Ten students are accepted into the program per summer.

• CAPS participants spend six weeks at Colby in July and August prior to their first year, participating in a science-focused curriculum that combines coursework with independent science research in the laboratories of participating Colby professors.  CAPS students are provided with room and board on campus and a $2000 stipend.  The program covers all travel expenses.

• Faculty and students work closely in small groups on real scientific research, representing Colby at its finest with regard to academic engagement.  You will spend your time actively engaged in real research projects, working among a variety of settings:  environmental field research on the nearby Belgrade lakes, cellular-level research in laboratories on campus, and molecular research at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory.  All work will be hands-on and in collaboration with Colby faculty, current students, and your CAPS peers.  This experience will allow you to gain familiarity with some of Colby’s commonly used laboratory practices, skills, and techniques that will prepare you well for your first year of science courses.

• We have also planned outdoor and evening activities for CAPS students intended to acquaint you with the campus, the Maine outdoors, and the Waterville community.  You will also participate in our Colby Undergraduate Summer Research Retreat with the 80 or so other research students on campus. As an added bonus, students who participated in the CAPS program in previous summers will be on campus to greet you and guide you through your CAPS experience.

CAPS Six-Week Summer Program

• A research experience in which CAPS students work one-on-one with science faculty mentors. This experience immerses students in the culture and practices of science as they play an active role in the research process.

• Laboratory sessions that help CAPS students learn the quantitative and laboratory skills necessary for chemistry and biology courses they will take during their first year at Colby.

• A variety of team building activities, some of which allow students to experience the magnificent Maine outdoors.

• The combination of these experiences equips students with the skills and knowledge base to allow them to take leadership roles in their science courses and in their Colby careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the dates of the six-week program?  -  July 1 – August 9, 2013

• What is the cost for me to participate in the CAPS program?  -  There is no cost for students to participate in the CAPS program.  CAPS students receive a stipend of $2500 plus room and board for the six-week program; all travel and off-campus activity expenses are also paid.

• Where will I live and eat for the summer?  - Students stay in campus dormitories with access to the dining hall for summer meals.

For more information about the CAPS Program