For details, contact: Doug Mell Director of Communications 715‐232‐1198 melld@uwstout.edu UW‐Stout awarded National Science Foundation grant for STEM scholarships FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2009 For students wanting to study science and need scholarship funds to help them through college, the University of Wisconsin‐Stout may be a top choice. The university recently received more than a half million dollars to fund these types of scholarships. The National Science Foundation awarded a Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics grant of $567,000 to UW‐Stout’s applied science program for support of the project "Polytechnic Mission, Applied Science Vision.” As a result, beginning in fall 2010, incoming students in the applied sciences have the opportunity to apply for $10,000 scholarships and current and future applied science students may apply for $5,000 scholarships. The project is under the direction of Kitrina Carlson, associate professor in biology; Krista James, senior lecturer in biology; Joan Thomas, dean of students; Ann M. Parsons, associate professor in biology and Charles R. Bomar, professor in biology. Hollace Anne Teuber, associate professor in speech and the designated minority programming faculty adviser for the applied science program, also will provide critical support as a key person on the grant. The NSF S‐STEM program allocates grants to institutions of higher education to support scholarships for students who are talented academically and need financial assistance to fund their education. The program enables students to enter the workforce following completion of an associate, baccalaureate or graduate level degree in science and engineering disciplines. This is the first‐time for the university to receive this renewable grant, and the faculty is pleased. “I'm excited because, through these scholarships and new programming, we're creating the foundation for supporting a diverse student population in the applied science program,” Carlson said. “The scholarships will also relieve the students from much of the burden of working off‐
campus and allow them to participate fully in the many opportunities available to them within the applied science program, such as laboratory research with faculty and peer mentors.” Scholarships enabling students for these experiences are known to increase the retention and matriculation rates of all STEM students but are particularly impactful for underrepresented students, Carlson said. The goal of the grant project is to capitalize on the growth of the program, to enhance the successful applied science community infrastructure already in place and to initiate an innovative model for the recruitment, retention and career success of academically able but financially disadvantaged and underrepresented students in STEM fields. In this model, 10 renewable recruitment scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded to incoming minority STEM students and 20 nonrenewable retention scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded to current and future applied science students over four years. The model incorporates a holistic approach to STEM education, including a summer bridge program, intensive advising, faculty and peer mentors and undergraduate research experiences with the expectation of 90 percent retention of scholarship recipients to degree achievement. S‐STEM scholarship recipients will be selected by a committee of faculty from the UW‐Stout applied science program, but must adhere to the following: • Be citizens of the United States; Nationals of the United States, as defined in Section 101 (a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; aliens admitted as refugees under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. • Be enrolled full‐time for each semester or quarter a student receives a scholarship. • Demonstrate academic potential and an interest in a career in the applied sciences. • Demonstrate financial need as defined for undergraduate students by the U.S. Department of Education rules for need‐based federal financial aid. Scholarships will be awarded beginning in the fall 2010 academic year and are to be used for expenses normally incurred by full‐time students in the indicated fields at the institutions, as outlined in the U.S. Department of Education Cost of Attendance definition. For more information contact Kitrina Carlson at 715‐232‐1248 or by e‐mail at carlsonki@uwstout.edu.