SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $7 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH EDUCATION INITIATIVES AT NYC COLLEGES
HSI STEM Funding Program to Help Develop and Expand Learning Opportunities for Hispanic and Low-Income Students
First Installment of Five-Year HSI STEM Funding Set to Begin This Month
New York, N.Y. – U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $6,965,380 in federal funding for seven New York colleges. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Education’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (HSI STEM) and Articulation Program. The federal funding will be used to bring more access to and support services in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs at Queens College, Lehman College, Mercy College, the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, LaGuardia Community College, and the City College of New York.
“As our economy continues to transition to the 21st century we need our students and education system to keep pace, and that’s why this is a smart investment,” said Senator Schumer. “Young adults across the New York City region must be college- and career-ready to meet the demands of today’s specialized STEM industries. These funds will help provide our local colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions with the tools they need to provide quality education for our students. I will continue to do everything in my power to help New York students prepare for the future and reach their fullest potential.”
“In order for New York to maintain our competitiveness in the 21st century global economy and keep our skilled workforce in the region, we must prepare our students with the education they need to succeed in jobs of the future,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “We need to do everything we can to give our students, regardless of income level, opportunities to study STEM subjects, and these federal funds will help us achieve that goal. I will continue to support educational programs that will create a new generation of innovators.”
CUNY Queens College will receive $968,562 for the first year of a 5-year $5.6M grant award to graduate more Hispanic and low-income students with Baccalaureate degrees, and to develop articulation agreements from Queensborough Community College to Queens College. The project will expand access and provide support services to students through course redesign, peer-led instruction and mentoring, and a strategic framework of cross-campus articulation, involving collaboration between faculty and administrators at both campuses.
“This is a very innovative and transformational grant opportunity that will spark great growth in our STEM enrollment,” notes Queens College President Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “And the beauty of this HSI grant is that it will help all students—not just Latinos and low-income students—because the curricular changes and programs developed will be open to all students here and at Queensborough. I am proud to say that our efforts at promoting the STEM fields at the college have already been rewarded, as over a third of our current undergraduates major in these important fields, and of those students, over half are minority students.”
Lehman College will receive $1,047,488 to establish frictionless pathways for students from Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College interested in pursuing STEM degrees.
According to Lehman College’s provost, Dr. Harriet Fayne, “this award will accelerate Lehman College’s efforts to advance its role as an engine of upward mobility. Through our efforts, we expect to expand access to careers in STEM and reduce the time it takes students to earn their degrees.”
Mercy College will receive $696,572 to begin the Team STEM initiative in collaboration with Westchester Community College to assist two- and four-year undergraduates in biology, psychology, mathematics, computer science, Computer Information Systems (CIS) and cyber security.
The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) will receive $1,200,000 to begin theHSI Digital Pathways Program in collaboration with City College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice to prepare students to pursue technical careers.
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology will receive $1,199,970 for outreach and support services for high school and community college students pursuing STEM-related degrees and career opportunities.
“As a college that serves many first-generation college students and recognized by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, we are proud to be awarded this 5-year grant to advance student education and careers in STEM-related fields,” said Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo.
LaGuardia Community College will receive $809,923 to work in collaboration with York College and New York City College of Technology for a new STEM-CONNECT initiative. The program will focus on expanding access to STEM programs, use digital academic support services to strengthen STEM learning and improve transfer effectiveness between institutions.
“Hispanics/Latinos comprise nearly half of our student population; we are deeply committed to ensuring they have the education and opportunity to enter America’s fast growing STEM fields,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail O. Mellow. “This $4.1 million grant will double enrollment in our STEM majors and help the city’s Hispanic/Latino population develop the math, science and tech skills they need to earn a college degree and qualify for rewarding, well-paying jobs. With these dollars, we will train the next generation of New York City's scientists, tech entrepreneurs, engineers, statisticians, and software developers.”
City College of New York (CCNY) will receive $1,042,865 to develop and implement Promote Academic Success in STEM (CiPASS) program. This new initiative would focus on creating the STEM Summer Bridge Program, online instruction development, real-time performance assessment, and entrepreneurial learning and recruitment services.
“The City College of New York houses the only public school of engineering in New York City and we are uniquely positioned to prepare the next generation of engineers. Increasing diversity in STEM ensures global competitiveness that will lead to technological breakthroughs, economic growth and greater social equality. We are thrilled to receive this funding and to have a tireless proponent of STEM education Jorge E. Gonzalez, NOAA CREST Professor of Mechanical Engineering, lead the effort,” said Gilda Barbarino, PhD, Dean of the Andrew Grove School of Engineering.
The purpose of the HSI STEM Program is to develop and expand higher education institutions’ capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students in STEM fields.
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