Louis Stokes New STEM Pathways and Research Alliance: Virginia--North Carolina (2023-2028)

The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program assists universities and colleges in their efforts to significantly increase the numbers of students matriculating into and successfully completing high quality degree programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to diversify the STEM workforce. Particular emphasis is placed on transforming undergraduate STEM education through innovative, evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies, and relevant educational experiences in support of populations underrepresented in STEM disciplines: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders. These strategies facilitate the production of well-prepared students highly qualified and motivated to pursue graduate education or careers in STEM. For the United States to remain globally competitive, it is vital that it taps into the talent of all its citizens and provides exceptional educational preparedness in STEM areas that underpin the knowledge-based economy. The Virginia-North Carolina STEM Pathways and Research Alliance (VA-NC SPRA) has formed an alliance in response to the need for a more diverse and skilled technical workforce. That need still exists and is particularly acute in the States of Virginia and North Carolina. The institutions that make up the Alliance are diverse and include the University of Virginia, lead institution, Bennett College, Elizabeth City State University, George Mason University, Johnson C. Smith University, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Old Dominion University, Piedmont Virginia Community College, St. Augustine’s University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Through this project, the Alliance will implement activities to support student success by improving retention, participation in undergraduate research, and the overall number of historically underrepresented populations graduating with STEM degrees from the eleven Alliance institutions. Through this effort, researchers involved in this project believe that the improved results will strengthen the STEM workforce in the States of Virginia and North Carolina and ultimately contribute to America's national security. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.