$850,000 Awarded to Assist Low-Income STEM Students

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Minneapolis College a $850,000 grant to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) scholastic and career opportunities for low-income students.

The project, Collaborative Research: Partnership Pathways to Improve the Professional Preparation of Low-Income Students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Minnesota, is a collaboration between several higher education institutions and led by Augsburg University with a combined budget of $5 million.

According to Renu Kumar, Ph.D., Biology Faculty at Minneapolis College who will be directing the College's portion of the grant, “This collaborative project contributes to a national commitment to advance well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers and technicians. Undergraduate research and internship experiences provided in Transfer Pathways support professional development through cross-institutional partnerships and workforce development programs.” 

At Minneapolis College, high achieving, low-income students are participating in the initiative to secure opportunities to obtain bachelor’s degrees in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Food Science, Mathematics and Physics. Minneapolis College President Sharon Pierce said, “I am so proud that Minneapolis College was selected to administer this $850,000 grant to benefit low-income students with research and professional mentoring STEM opportunities that will enhance their educational goals and provide them with valuable preparatory experience in their field."

The NSF seeks to increase the number of academically talented students with demonstrated financial needs 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.

For more information, visit the NSF Grant webpage.