Northern Kentucky University has received nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundation to attract and keep students who major in the critical Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (or
STEM) programs.
It's one of several recent grants the university has received for STEM programs, whose grads are needed if the region wants to keep and create high-paying, high-tech and creative jobs.
"We have a dearth of people with science, technology, engineering or mathematics degrees but we have a lot of companies here who tell us that want more of these majors. This grant is going to help us recruit and retain those students," said Dr. Bethany Bowling, assistant professor of Biology, who helped write the grant proposal.
NKU was one of 22 schools that received the grant out of 186 proposals submitted.
The NSF grant will be paid out over five years. It will be used to develop programs and a campus community that engages, supports and connects STEM students across disciplines, Bowling said. The university is calling the initiative Focus on Occupations, Recruiting, Role Models, Community and Engagement (or FORCE).
Ten NKU student STEM ambassadors have been chosen to assist with FORCE. Two students from each STEM program - biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics - will hold study sessions, help with recruitment efforts and more. Each ambassador will be paid a $3,000 stipend for the year. Plans also include offering summer research opportunities. There are also about a dozen STEM-related clubs students will be encouraged to join.
Many students come to campus excited about a STEM program, but often lose enthusiasm as courses get tough or individual students don't have friends to connect to in their programs. This grant will help NKU foster a STEM community, which should give students a better shot at success, Bowling said.
"We want students to meet with people in their own disciplines or in STEM-related disciplines. Maybe they'll meet up with someone in the medical field and decide engineering isn't for them, but maybe they want to be a chemistry or biology major instead. We want to help them makes those connections," she said.
The FORCE program will kickoff Wednesday, Sept. 1, from 4-6 p.m. on the fourth floor of NKU's
Dorothy Westerman Herrmann Natural Science Center.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Dr. Bethany Bowling, NKU assistant professors of Biology
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