Collaborative research: building a computing and engineering network to foster academic excellence among low-income scholars

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Allan Hancock College $1.2 million on March 15, 2026, under the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program (CFDA 47.076) to support low-income STEM scholars through a Track 3 Project Grant running through February 29, 2032.

The award funds scholarships averaging $13,000 annually for up to five years to support low-income, high-achieving students pursuing associate degrees at Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College, and bachelor of science degrees in computer science and engineering. Scholars receive faculty co-mentoring across institutions, strengths coaching, internship placement, and participation in student research. The project emphasizes cohort building and networking opportunities to enhance retention and degree completion.

Place of performance is Santa Maria, California. An external evaluator will assess factors contributing to successful transfer and institutional sustainability, with findings intended to contribute to the knowledge base on supporting low-income STEM students. Allan Hancock College serves as the prime recipient; Cuesta College participates as a partner institution in the collaborative network.

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. A total of scholars pursuing associate degrees from allan hancock college and cuesta college, and bachelor of science degrees in computer science and engineering will receive scholarships averaging $13,000 for up to five years at each institution. Scholars will receive faculty CO-mentoring across institutions and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through connection and networking opportunities. Additional activities for scholars include strengths coaching, internships, and student research. The overall goal of this track 3 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 and computer science and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will examine factors that contribute to successful transfer and the sustainability of institutional change. 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.