Collaborative research: stem persistence and retention for talented, low-income students via scholarships, curricula, centralization, cohorts, and collaboration

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded South Piedmont Community College Inc. $750,000 on March 15, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to support STEM persistence and retention for low-income undergraduates through scholarships, mentoring, and cohort-building activities.

The project will provide scholarships of up to $15,000 per year to at least 120 low-income, academically talented scholars pursuing associate or bachelor's degrees in biology, data science, or computer science at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Cleveland Community College, Gaston College, and South Piedmont Community College. Beyond scholarships, scholars receive faculty mentoring, tutoring, success coaching, and career services. The project builds cohorts through shared courses, undergraduate research, and service-learning opportunities. Evaluation and research activities will examine transfer pathways and science capital development to contribute to the evidence base on effective support strategies for low-income STEM students.

Performance period runs from the award date through February 28, 2031, with place of performance at Monroe, North Carolina. This is a Track 3 S-STEM project designed to increase STEM degree completion and strengthen the domestic workforce in critical fields including computer science, data science, and biological sciences.

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 north carolina at charlotte, rowan-cabarrus community college, cleveland community college, gaston college, and south piedmont community college. At least 120 scholars pursuing associate in science degrees and/or bachelor?s degrees in biology, data science, or computer science will receive scholarships of up to $15,000 per year depending on each scholar?s unmet need. Scholars will receive faculty mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through opportunities for shared courses, undergraduate research, and service-learning. Additional activities for scholars include tutoring, success coaching, and focused career services. The overall goal of this track 3 s-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 computer science, data science, the biological sciences, and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator and project research focuses on developing scholars? Transfer and science capital. Research findings and the data generated through project evaluation 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.