Federal Grant Award Summary

This collaborative project grant of $750,000, awarded on March 15, 2026, by the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), supports STEM persistence and retention initiatives across five North Carolina institutions: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Cleveland Community College, Gaston College, and South Piedmont Community College. The primary products and services include 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, along with faculty mentoring and cohort-building activities.

In addition to financial support, the project delivers comprehensive student success services including tutoring, success coaching, and specialized career services. Scholars participate in shared coursework, undergraduate research opportunities, and service-learning activities designed to build strong academic cohorts and advance transfer and science capital. The project incorporates rigorous evaluation and research components focused on identifying effective strategies for supporting talented, low-income STEM students, with findings intended to contribute to the broader knowledge base on STEM workforce development. The award period extends through February 28, 2031.