Advancing stem retention and career readiness through comprehensive support systems

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded the University of North Carolina at Pembroke $1,999,818 on April 15, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to support retention and degree completion of low-income, academically talented undergraduate students in science and engineering fields.

The project will provide scholarships averaging $12,900 annually for up to five years to 30 high-achieving, low-income scholars pursuing bachelor's degrees in biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Scholars receive faculty mentoring, participate in weekly "Leadership in the Sciences" meetings, attend an annual scholar retreat, and access a dedicated study and meeting space. The program integrates academic boot camps, research opportunities, industry site visits, and K-12 community outreach activities. An external evaluator will assess project progress through surveys, interviews, and focus groups to contribute to evidence on effective support strategies for low-income STEM students.

The period of performance runs through March 31, 2032, with work performed in Pembroke, North Carolina.

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 the university of north carolina at pembroke. A total of 30 scholars pursuing bachelor?s degrees in biology, chemistry, and environmental science will receive scholarships averaging $12,900 for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through a weekly ?leadership in the sciences? Meeting, annual scholar retreat, and a dedicated study and meeting space for scholars. Additional activities include academic boot camps, access to research opportunities, industry site visits, and opportunities for community outreach to k-12 students. 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 and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will assess project progress through surveys, interviews, and focus groups, and 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.