Collaborative research: advancing pathways through a multi-institutional consortium for engineering education and workforce development

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded the University of Rhode Island $4,619,389 on January 1, 2027, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to support scholar retention and degree completion through a multi-institutional consortium in engineering education and workforce development.

The project will provide scholarships for up to five years to 116 high-achieving, low-income scholars pursuing associate's degrees in engineering technology at Community College of Rhode Island and bachelor's degrees in engineering and engineering technology at the University of Rhode Island. Scholars will receive faculty and peer mentoring, participate in engineering pathway cohorts, attend workshops, and engage with industry partners and research symposia. Research on how scholars navigate their academic trajectories will be conducted by collaborators at Rowan University. An independent evaluator will assess the project using ABET-aligned review processes to generate evidence on effective strategies for supporting talented, low-income STEM students.

The award runs from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2032, with place of performance at Kingston, Rhode Island. The University of Rhode Island's Research Office Division serves as the prime recipient.

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 rhode island and community college of rhode island. A total of 116 scholars pursuing associate's degrees in engineering technology and bachelor's degrees in engineering and engineering technology will receive scholarships for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty and peer mentoring, and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through engineering pathways, peer mentoring and workshops. Additional activities for scholars include industry engagement and research symposia. Research on how students navigate their academic trajectories will be explored by collaborators at rowan university. The overall goal of this track 3 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 leverage abet-aligned review processes, 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.