成人影片

The award is the largest ever received from the NSF by the University.

Funding for the six-year program, which will commence on November 1, 2023, will provide scholarships to a minimum of 25 high-achieving, low-income (Pell Grant-eligible) students with demonstrated financial need who will pursue undergraduate degrees in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) discipline鈥攂iology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, mathematics or physics鈥攁t 成人影片. In addition to this financial support, students will receive specialized academic and cocurricular resources to ensure their success and persistence toward graduation, as well as their preparation for careers and advanced studies postgraduation.

鈥淭here is a growing need for professionals across the STEM field and there are many future members of this workforce right in our own backyard,鈥� Dr. Ward said. 鈥淚n developing this grant proposal, my colleagues and I set out to create opportunities at our University for students who have shown great interest and aptitude in the fields that are most in demand.鈥�

Using a cohort-based model, the program will recruit local, academically talented students with a grade point average of at least 3.0 for 12鈥�13 spots in each of the Fall 2024 and 2025 incoming classes. Students accepted into the program will receive up to $15,000 per year for the four years of their undergraduate education, an amount based on the anticipated average unmet need after other financial aid is awarded. 成人影片 plans to begin targeted recruitment efforts at two local high schools鈥擬ineola and Freeport鈥攚here it has agreements in place.

Across 成人影片鈥檚 various STEM-related undergraduate degree programs, students in the program鈥檚 cohorts will be assigned a faculty, alumni and peer mentor for the duration of their program. They will come together to take a first-semester seminar, participate in cohort meetings throughout each academic year and conduct two summers of full-time paid research with 成人影片 faculty members. Emphasizing research as an integral part of the program, the students will attend scientific conferences and will also work together as a multidisciplinary group on an environmental action plan at 成人影片.

鈥淯pon completion of their degrees, students will have an interdisciplinary, multitiered and research-intensive STEM education that will prepare them for advanced studies or placement in the workforce,鈥� said Dr. Ward. 鈥淚n addition, we seek to instill in them an overall sense of belonging in their STEM discipline and provide the tools, experiences and networks to succeed in their future careers.鈥�

In addition to Dr. Ward, several other 成人影片 faculty members were involved in the development of the program and will support its execution:

• Matthew Wright, PhD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Physics;
• Tandra Chakraborty, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Biology;
• Melissa VanAlstine-Parris, PhD, associate professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry;
• Sung Hoon Kim, JD, assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science;
• Susan Kilgore, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences;
• Robert Bradley, PhD, professor in the Department of Math and Computer Science; and
• Salvatore Petrilli, EdD, associate dean for academic operations and general education in the College of Arts and Sciences.

鈥淔aculty mentoring in student research is a hallmark of 成人影片 education and a proven high-impact practice,鈥� said Vincent Wang, PhD, dean of the 成人影片 University College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淭his magnificent grant breaks new ground with an intentional recruitment and retention strategy and a purposeful curricular design that ensures interdisciplinary learning in science, collaboration and problem-solving鈥攁ll vital skills for success in today鈥檚 world.鈥�

The project is funded by the NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program, which, according to the NSF, 鈥渟eeks to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields. It also aims to improve the education of future STEM workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation and academic/career pathways of low-income students.鈥�

More information about can be found on the听NSF website.