Research-based interventions for engaging low-income undergraduates in stem

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Black Hills State University $2 million on February 1, 2027, under the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program to support STEM student retention and completion.

The award funds scholarships averaging $15,000 each for up to five years for 24 high-achieving, low-income undergraduates pursuing B.S. degrees in biology, chemistry, environmental physical sciences, mathematics, and physical science. Scholars receive faculty and peer mentoring through a dedicated STEM Scholar Learning Center and participate in learning communities designed to build cohort strength. The project includes undergraduate research opportunities and a student development event series focused on STEM career pathways. An external evaluator will assess program implementation and goal attainment, with findings contributing to the evidence base on effective support strategies for low-income STEM students.

The period of performance runs from February 1, 2027, through January 31, 2033. Work is performed in Spearfish, South Dakota. The project addresses documented national workforce needs in biotech, physical sciences, high-energy physics, and accelerator science by strengthening STEM degree completion and preparing students for regional and national STEM careers.

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 black hills state university. A total of 24 scholars pursuing a B.S. In biology, chemistry, environmental physical sciences, mathematics, and physical science will receive scholarships averaging $15,000 for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty and peer mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through learning communities and stem scholar learning center. Additional activities for scholars include undergraduate research and a student development event series focused on pathways into stem careers. 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 national and regional stem careers, particularly biotech, physical sciences, high-energy and accelerator science and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will provide feedback on program implementation and goal attainment, 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.