Unlocking potential & sustained outcomes, academic pathways and retention for low-income scholars in engineering

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded the University of Kentucky Research Foundation $2 million on January 1, 2027, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to support scholarship and mentoring for low-income undergraduates pursuing engineering degrees.

The award funds scholarships for up to 48 scholars pursuing bachelor's degrees in aerospace, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering, with each scholar eligible to receive support for up to five years. The project delivers faculty and peer mentoring structured in two stages—one focused on lower-division students and another for more advanced students—to build cohorts and strengthen scholar support. An independent evaluator will assess the project's impact on student retention and graduation, with findings contributing to the knowledge base on effective strategies for supporting talented low-income students in STEM.

Place of performance is Lexington, Kentucky. The period of performance runs through December 31, 2032. This is a Project Grant, classified as assistance funding. The project is designated Track 2 within the program.

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 kentucky. A total of 48 scholars pursuing bachelor?s degrees in aerospace, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering will receive scholarships for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty and peer mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through a two-staged support structure, one focused on lower division students and another for more advanced students. The overall goal of this track 2 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 engineering and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will examine the impact of project activities on student retention and graduation, 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 planned for this award.