S-stem: prototyping, research, and integrated manufacturing excellence: a vertical systems-thinking framework for student-scholar success

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University $2 million on October 1, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to provide scholarships and integrated support services to 30 high-achieving, low-income undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in applied engineering technology, automotive engineering technology, computer graphics technology, and electronics technology.

Scholars will receive need-based scholarships covering unmet need up to $15,000 for undergraduates or $20,000 for graduate students for up to five years. The project will provide faculty, industry, and peer mentoring; build scholar cohorts through monthly meetings and professional workshops; offer competence-based micro credentials and a community of practice; and facilitate undergraduate research, industry internships, and competition opportunities. An external evaluator will assess how removing socioeconomic constraints influences identity formation, systems-thinking development, and persistence in engineering technology disciplines, generating data on effective strategies to support low-income STEM talent.

Performance of work occurs in Greensboro, North Carolina, with a period of performance from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2032. The project addresses the national need for skilled scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians while strengthening the advanced manufacturing workforce.

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 north carolina agricultural & technical state university. A total of 30 scholars pursuing bachelor of science in applied engineering technology, automotive engineering technology, computer graphics technology, and electronics technology will receive scholarships that cover unmet need up to $15,000 for undergraduates or $20,000 for graduate students for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty, industry or community, and peer mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through monthly meetings, professional workshops, competence-based micro credentials, and a community of practice. Additional activities for scholars include undergraduate research, industry internships, and competition opportunities. The overall goal of this track 2 scholarships in stem project is to increase stem degree completion of academically talented, low-income undergraduate students 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 advanced manufacturing and other key areas of need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will address how removing socioeconomic constraints influences identity formation, development of system-thinking and persistence in engineering technology disciplines, 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.