“Equity in STEM education is the first pillar of Nevada’s State Strategic Plan for STEM. Creating an environment where students from all backgrounds can succeed in STEM fields is not just the right thing for students, it is also necessary for Nevada to reach its college attainment goals and to provide Nevada’s STEM employers with a workforce that meets their needs,” said Brian Mitchell, Director of OSIT. “I’m excited to work with CSN on this important project.”
Students of color and females, particularly students in poverty, are underrepresented in STEM majors and graduate at lower rates. Many low-income and underrepresented students face multiple academic and non-academic barriers to graduation in STEM. Examples of academic barriers include tuition and book costs, lack of mentorship, the need for remediation, lack of understanding of the academic advising or financial aid process, the scheduling of courses, and bottleneck courses. Non-academic barriers include unmet needs for food, transportation, housing, and childcare. Promising new research suggests integrated interventions addressing academic and non-academic barriers can improve student success rates.
STEM Workforce Equity Grant - Round I
In Round I, OSIT has partnered with the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) on a four-year project that funds the development of new programs and the integration of existing programs to increase the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of underrepresented students in in-demand STEM degree and certificate programs.
College of Southern Nevada (CSN) was awarded $1,000,000 for the development of initiatives and strategies that seek to increase the number of underrepresented and low-income students studying and completing degrees or certificates in high-demand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. Underrepresented groups in STEM include women, students of color, and students with disabilities. The grant award represents the beginning of a four-year partnership between OSIT and CSN with the goal of finding successful strategies that meet the needs of students and can be replicated at other colleges and universities across the state.
More Information about this Partnership