Portland State will receive funding over the next five years from the National Science Foundation aimed at doubling the number of minority student populations seeking degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM.
The grant, named the Pacific Northwest Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (PNW LSAMP), calls for $2.6 million to be awarded to Portland State and University of Washington, Oregon State University, Boise State University and Washington State University.
“We will receive $7,000 the first year and then $10,000 for the next four years after that,” said Linda Mantel, Portland State’s program coordinator for PNW LSAMP. “After the five years is up, we will be evaluated. The more students we graduate, the more funding we will get.”
It took about a year and a half to get organized for the grant, Mantel said.
“These students are highly motivated, determined and persistent,” said Lorna Tran, project director of PNW LSAMP at Portland State. “We have an untapped pool of talent, but are not seeing those numbers reflected in STEM,” Tran said.
There are over 40 different PNW LSAMP projects across the country, each bringing their own character and culture to the table. The grant marks Portland State’s first involvement with a project of this nature that has focused mainly on science.
“We are the only school with a leadership system like this,” Mantel said. “Usually the schools run the program out of the student group office. We have the best of all worlds—we have an experienced advisor and two students at the front lines.”
The grant will reach its goal of doubling minority STEM graduates by recruitment, readiness, retention and research.
“We are trying to provide research opportunities that will help with the transition to graduate school,” Mantel said.
It will also give minority students the support, opportunities and community necessary to thrive in a rigorous academic atmosphere.
“In addition to the funding, every year there will be a research conference hosted by each of the participating schools in the Northwest alliance,” Mantel said. “Ten students will have the opportunity to go and present their research. The travel and expenses are funded by the grant.”
Arturo Garcia and Mike Tejada are graduate assistants and mentors currently involved with the program. They are working with Mantel and Tran in the planning and execution of the project.
“I volunteered at a high school to identify what [students’] needs might be to keep them in school, and then bringing those ideas back to campus to see what we can do to help them continue on,” said Garcia, who is working towards a master’s in science and teaching.
Getting to know the needs of students not only improves the campus community, but the country as a while, Tejada said.
“We want to emphasize that we are open for anyone, despite nationality. This is about being inclusive,” Mantel said. “All students will benefit because of the enthusiasm of the professors. The purpose is to really lift everyone.”