The National Science Foundation Division of Human Resource Development awarded Stillman College $2,241,737 on October 1, 2025, under the HBCU-UP (Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Undergraduate Program) component of STEM Education (CFDA 47.076) to implement a project improving STEM majors participation and completion through innovative strategies including micro-credentialing, faculty-student research collaborations, and industry partnerships.
The project, titled "IMPACTS@SC-I" (Improving Majors Participation and Completion Through STEM at Stillman College – Implementation Projects), operates through August 31, 2030, with performance at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The three primary goals are to increase retention of STEM majors from sophomore to senior years, redesign upper-level STEM curricula to integrate course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), and enhance research and workforce development infrastructure. The project grounds itself in evidence-based practices, specifically leveraging student research experiences to bolster engagement and retention. An ongoing evaluation, internal advisory committee, and external advisory committee will guide and inform the work.
The initiative aims to advance knowledge in STEM education degree attainment, student retention and persistence, career readiness, and establish a scalable model for supporting students. No subawards are planned for this award.