LATIN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

Evaluation covers the period 6/77-6/79 and is based in part on previous evaluations. LASPU computer records were used to update the statistics reported in the 1977 PES, and special reports were written by LASPU on special topics, e.g., "Centers of Excellence" (COE). LASPU has identified seven COE"s to institute priority training programs for U.S.-trained scholars, thus lessening the need for nationals to study abroad. Eighty-seven AID-funded scholars were selected in FY 1977 for the final group, or "wave 14" under the FY 1973-77 contract. Of the 2,050 scholars from FY 1966-79, 1,601 graduated, 122 are currently funded and in training, one is in English language training, and 24 are currently non-A.I.D. funded. The majority of scholars (waves 10-14) have been selected from provincial institutions and have been enrolled in such technical fields as agriculture (5.7%), biology (6.0%), business (5.7%), civil (5.8%) and electrical engineering (7.7%), economics (4.9%), mathematics (6.5%), and education (11.1%). Of a total of 2,050 scholars, 302 did not complete their programs due to withdrawals for medical reasons (20), academic reasons (109), personal reasons (131), leaves of absence (33), and death (9). The dropout rate of the orginally selected group (2,050) is 14.7% (302), while the graduation rate is 78.1%. The total number of graduates to date (1,601) exceeds the project goal of 1,550. A total of 98% of the scholars have returned to Latin America. In 1977, of those surveyed (694 out of a possible 1,110 from waves 1-9), 86.6% had returned to higher education immediately after graduation, and 81.4% were currently employed in higher education. Subsequent surveys indicate that the retention rate was 85% for wave 10 and 86% for wave 11.