Supporting transfer students in biology, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Athens State University two million dollars on January 15, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to provide scholarships and mentoring services supporting transfer and low-income students pursuing STEM degrees.

The award funds scholarships averaging fifteen thousand dollars per year for up to three years to 28 scholars pursuing bachelor's degrees in biology, chemistry, computer science, information technology, and mathematics. Scholars receive faculty, peer, and community mentoring; virtual seminar speakers; virtual tutoring; and an orientation STEM course. The project builds scholar cohorts and supports retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need.

Athens State University serves as the recipient. Performance occurs in Athens, Alabama through December 31, 2031. The project includes evaluation by an experienced evaluator collecting and analyzing survey data, focus group interviews, and student retention and graduation reports to contribute knowledge regarding effective strategies for supporting talented, low-income STEM students. The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program seeks to increase the number of academically talented, low-income students with demonstrated financial need earning degrees in STEM fields, improve education of future STEM workers, and generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, and graduation in STEM disciplines.

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 athens state university. A total of 28 scholars pursuing BS in biology, chemistry, computer science, information technology and mathematics will receive scholarships averaging $15,000 per year for up to three years. Scholars will receive faculty, peer and community mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through virtual seminar speakers, virtual tutoring, and an orientation stem course. The overall goal of this track 2 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 biotechnology, aerospace, computing and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will collect and analyze survey data, focus group interviews and reports on student retention and graduate rates. 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.