National Science Foundation Helps Fund STEM at SCF

The National Science Foundation, under its Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program, has awarded State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) nearly $350,000 designed to help increase the number of minority students taking part in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs.

The Tampa Bay Bridge to Baccalaureate grant will leverage connections through the University of South Florida’s (USF) FUSE initiative, a guaranteed admission program for students who complete their associate degree. Faculty, staff and administrators will work with local school districts, representatives from industries using STEM, and other educational institutions to ensure that minority students have the support and engagement necessary to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field.

Students in the program will engage in undergraduate research and other hands-on learning opportunities, designed to increase exploration of STEM interests and careers. The Tampa Bay area, including Manatee and Sarasota counties, has a critical need for students with a strong education in the STEM fields. The three-year NSF grant is part of a $1.5 million award to state colleges in Tampa Bay, including St. Petersburg College and Hillsborough Community College which are working in partnership with SCF.

For more information, contact Jose Ors, chair of SCF’s natural sciences department, at OrsJ@SCF.edu or 941-752-5608.