Implementation project: strengthening the stem pathway through a holistic multi-layer approach

Tougaloo College received a $2.25M Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Human Resource Development under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), awarded August 1, 2025, with a completion date of July 31, 2030. This Implementation Project in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) delivers comprehensive institutional services designed to increase undergraduate STEM degree attainment and build STEM education research capacity. The college will provide integrated artificial intelligence (AI) learning tools, early engagement and mentorship programs, and interdisciplinary research opportunities to strengthen the STEM pathway for students at the institution.

The specific products and services delivered include: a redesigned Summer Science and Engineering Program featuring teacher-faculty collaboration to bridge high school and college academic expectations; an enhanced interdisciplinary freshman seminar course to strengthen math and scientific literacy; establishment of a community college transfer pipeline with partner institutions; and deployment of AI-assisted learning tools (including Civitas Learning and ChatGPT) to provide personalized instruction and predictive analytics. The project is grounded in evidence-based practices emphasizing student research experiences, guided by ongoing evaluation and advisory committees. No subawards are planned for this award.

Abstract

Implementation projects in the historically black colleges and universities - undergraduate program (hbcu-up) provide support to design, implement, study, and assess comprehensive institutional efforts to increase the numbers of students receiving undergraduate degrees in stem and building stem education research capacity. This implementation project at tougaloo college seeks to integrate artificial intelligence (AI), expand the stem workforce, and equip students with the skills needed for future careers through early engagement, mentorship, and interdisciplinary research. The project is grounded in evidence-based practices, specifically leveraging student research experiences to bolster engagement and retention in stem. The project is guided and informed by an ongoing evaluation, as well as by internal and external advisory committees.? ? The goals of the project are to 1) streamline the bridge between high school and college academic expectations through teacher-faculty collaboration in the summer science and engineering program; 2) enhance the interdisciplinary freshmen seminar course to strengthen math and scientific literacy; 3) establish a community college transfer pipeline with partner institutions; and 4) deploy AI-assisted learning tools (e.g., civitas learning, chatgpt) to enhance personalized instruction and predictive analytics. Successful completion of this project has the potential to transform stem education at tougaloo college resulting in improved student success outcomes for stem students and increased scholarly output for the university?s stem faculty.? 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.