Increasing persistence in stem career preparedness through mentoring and cohort activities

Johnson & Wales University received a $999,960 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. The award supports a Track 1 Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) initiative designed to increase persistence and degree completion among low-income, high-achieving undergraduate students. The university will provide scholarships averaging $15,000 annually to 12 Bachelor of Science Biology degree candidates over up to five years, coupled with comprehensive support services including faculty mentoring, cohort-building activities, a mathematics accelerator program, scientific communication coaching, and journal club participation to enhance academic achievement and career readiness.

The project directly addresses the national need for a robust Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics workforce by targeting economically disadvantaged students with demonstrated financial need who possess strong academic credentials. An independent evaluator will employ a mixed-methods approach to conduct formative and summative evaluation of the program, with findings intended to contribute to the broader knowledge base regarding effective retention and completion strategies for talented, low-income STEM students. This initiative aligns with the NSF's commitment to broadening participation in STEM fields and strengthening the domestic workforce across critical scientific and technical sectors.

Abstract

This project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need at johnson & wales university. A total of 12 scholars pursuing bachelor of science biology degrees will receive scholarships averaging $15,000 for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through targeted programming focused on student success, academic achievement, and career readiness. Additional activities for scholars include a math accelerator program, scientific communication coaching, and journal club activities. The overall goal of this track 1 scholarships in stem project is to increase stem degree completion of academically talented, low-income undergraduates with demonstrated financial need. There is a significant national need to grow the stem workforce and nurture key talent that will ensure economic competitiveness and provide domestic leadership across critical sectors. This project directly speaks to this need by supporting stem student success, which will strengthen the workforce in the biological sciences and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will oversee the formative and summative evaluation and use a mixed methods approach. The data generated will contribute to the knowledge base regarding effective strategies to support talented, low-income students in stem. This project is funded by NSF's scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of academically talented, low-income students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in stem fields. IT also aims to improve the education of future stem workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation, and academic/career pathways of low-income students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.