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College of the Canyons received a grant of $ 1,493,379 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund a new scholarship program aimed at increasing retention, transfer and graduation rates among science, technology, engineering majors and Mathematics (STEM) in key student populations, including Blacks, Latinxes, women, first-generation students, and low-income students.
Launched in fall 2022, the new Scholarship-STEM Equity Alliance (SEA) scholarship program will build on the College’s successful Mathematics, Engineering and Science (MESA) program to improve access to support for academic preparation and student services.
“This is the second National Science Foundation grant the college is receiving this year, a testament to our innovative spirit, academic excellence and commitment to student success,” said Chancellor from the College of the Canyons, Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “STEM-based industries are helping lead the economic recovery from the pandemic, so this award is timely. This grant-provided funding will play a crucial role in helping the College of the Canyons remove barriers for students interested in entering these competitive and ever-changing fields.
The SEA Scholars program will recruit, mentor and support academically talented STEM students pursuing degrees in biology, biological sciences, computer science, engineering, environmental sciences, mathematics and physics.
During the six-year grant period, 100 STEM students will receive financial and academic resources, including scholarships of up to $ 10,000 ($ 5,000 for two years). Scholarship students will participate in five cohorts of twenty students each, with the ultimate goal of earning an associate’s degree and joining the STEM workforce or transferring to a four-year college.
“We are delighted to receive this substantial grant from the National Science Foundation,†said Patricia Foley, principal investigator of the grant and professor of chemistry at the college. “This award will help us create structures to provide our under-represented students with the academic, social and financial capital necessary to pursue STEM careers.â€
Students will also engage with faculty members through well-defined mentoring relationships and participate in STEM career exploration activities.
Additionally, participating COC professors will learn how to create inclusive, equitable, and culturally appropriate STEM classrooms, which is a proven approach to improve STEM outcomes among low-income, under-represented and disadvantaged students on the job. educational plan.
Created by the NSF, the mission of the S-STEM program is to enable low-income and talented students to pursue successful careers in promising STEM fields.
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