Stem STARS: a partnership to build persistence to math-intensive degrees in low-income students

The National Science Foundation awarded the University of South Alabama $4,999,979 on February 1, 2026, under the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program (CFDA 47.076) to deliver the STEM STARS project through January 31, 2032.

The project provides scholarships up to $15,000 for up to five years to a total of 60 high-achieving, low-income scholars pursuing Associate in Science degrees and Bachelor of Science degrees in engineering, chemistry, mathematics and statistics, and physics at the University of South Alabama, Bishop State Community College, and Coastal Alabama Community College. Scholars receive faculty mentoring, participate in learning communities designed to support pre-calculus coursework, and engage in cohort-building through social and service activities. The project incorporates targeted mathematics support, precalculus course interventions, monthly scholar meetings, and participation in program events. An experienced evaluator assesses the project and generates data on the effects of mathematics supports on retention of talented, low-income students in STEM.

Bishop State Community College is a sub-recipient (award dated April 1, 2026) and will select five scholars to begin in Fall 2026 and another five in Fall 2027, provide precalculus academic support including recitation and lab sections with undergraduate learning assistants, and coordinate monthly scholar meetings and program participation. Coastal Alabama Community College is a sub-recipient (award dated March 10, 2026) and will select seven scholars to begin in Fall 2026 and another seven in Fall 2027, with parallel precalculus support and scholar engagement activities.

Performance occurs in Mobile, Alabama.

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 university of south alabama, bishop state community college, and coastal alabama community college. A total of 60 scholars pursuing associate in science degrees and B.S. Degrees in engineering, chemistry, mathematics and statistics, and physics will receive scholarships up to $15,000 for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through social and service activities. Additional activities for scholars include participation in learning communities to support pre-calculus coursework. The overall goal of this track 3 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 engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator and the data generated will contribute to the knowledge base by exploring the effects of targeted mathematics supports on the retention of 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 planned for this award.