Manhattan College Receives NSF Grant

Manhattan College is among the recipients of The National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) grant. The grant is for $70,000 per year over the next five years. Named for the late civil rights pioneer U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes, the LSAMP grant will encourage minority success within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

LSAMP is an alliance-based program, enabling institutions of higher education to work together to diversify the nation's STEM workforce. The program intends to increase the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to people from LSAMP populations. This is defined as people from underrepresented groups including:  Blacks and African-Americans, Hispanics and Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.  

The LSAMP program supports frameworks that reduce institutional barriers for underrepresented minorities (URM) in STEM to achieve its overall mission.

Andy Burns, Executive Director, Centralized Advising and Campus CO-PI, Manhattan College, said, “This grant proposal was a true collaborative effort. All the institutions involved are passionate about the opportunities for underrepresented students in STEM.” He added, “The funding will allow us to leverage some of our existing structures, and explore new ways to support the outcomes and success of URM students. We will coordinate intentional programming throughout the campus for participants to engage in activities that align with the overarching goals of the LSAMP project.”

Manhattan College is a part of an alliance of 10 institutions that make up the Lower Hudson Valley Catholic Colleges and Universities Consortium (LHVCCUC). Led by Molloy University, seven of those are institutions are participating in LSAMP, including: Manhattan College, Mount Saint Mary College, St. Francis College, St. John’s University, St. Joseph’s University New York, and St. Thomas Aquinas College.

The alliance will work collaboratively to achieve overarching goals: 

1. Increase the enrollment of URMs in STEM majors.
2. Improve first- to second-year retention. 
3. Foster strong STEM/scientist identities through STEM enrichment activities. 
4. Support successful entry into graduate study and STEM careers.

“This grant supports the expansion of Manhattan College’s STEM pipeline,” said Milo Riverso, Ph.D., P.E. President of Manhattan College. “Our College is known for its STEM programs. With a stellar STEM faculty and extensive alumni network we provide the exceptional knowledge and opportunities that can give URM students what they need to succeed.”

The program will have measured benefits. Findings from this endeavor will be shared with the LSAMP and broader communities to help determine literature that can support the success of underrepresented minorities in STEM.