NSF Awards North Carolina Alliance $3.2 Million to Continue STEM Programming

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 27, 2020) – The North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NC-LSAMP), led by North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, received a five-year $3.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue efforts to broaden STEM pathways for underrepresented groups. 

“It is our goal to offer every possible opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in impactful STEM-related research and activities,” said Beryl McEwen, Ph.D., N.C. A&T provost and executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and NC-LSAMP principal investigator. “This funding will help us continue the great work North Carolina A&T has been doing for more than 20 years through this program as we equip students for graduate-level education and ensure they are well prepared to enter the workforce.”

The grant will support the alliance’s initiatives including increased STEM outreach efforts to K-12 schools, pairing undergraduate students participating in innovative research projects with peer and faculty mentors, providing opportunities to attend regional and national conferences, and presenting workshops focused on student development.

Member institutions will continue implementing a cohort-based learning approach and will expand upon its use of facilitated study groups.

Additionally, the alliance will identify factors that contribute to students ultimately deciding not to pursue STEM-related majors even if they previously expressed interest or were academically prepared. The findings will be published in academic journals.

The alliance consists of these member institutions: 

• North Carolina A&T State University
• Fayetteville State University
• North Carolina Central University
• North Carolina State University
• University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
• University of North Carolina Charlotte
• University of North Carolina Pembroke
• Winston-Salem State University