William Paterson Gets $5M For Hispanic, Low-Income STEM Students

WAYNE, NJ — William Paterson University received a $4.99 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education Grant for Hispanic Serving Institutions to enhance its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. The grant will target Hispanic and low-income first-time, first-year students and transfer students from Passaic County Community College.

The university will receive the grant over five years.

“These funds will offer much-needed support for our community of students to pursue STEM programs,” said Joshua Powers, the university's senior vice president of academic affairs. “This grant will greatly enhance opportunities and support pathways for students to learn and thrive in STEM majors and increase the number of STEM graduates entering the workforce.”

The project — titled Access to STEM Pathways through Integrated Research and Engagement (ASPIRE) — aims to increase the overall number of STEM majors at William Paterson. In particular, the project focuses on the number of low-income and Hispanic STEM students transferring from PCCC to William Paterson in the discipline.

The initiative will also aim to increase the number of Hispanic juniors and seniors participating in work-based learning, such as internships and research fellowships, as well as increase the four-year graduation rates of the participating students.

The grant will also support the roles of specialized personnel who will provide individualized support to these students and who will connect them to resources at William Paterson and PCCC, all while facilitating a transfer plan. Once a student enrolls at William Paterson, they will receive individualized coaching and access to resources such as tutoring, supplemental instruction, career services, mental health counseling and financial aid.

William Paterson is the third-most diverse public university in New Jersey, according to its website. Forty-five percent of students are the first in their families to attend university. The institution is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with 29 percent of students claiming Hispanic heritage.

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