(New Haven, CT)—The National Science Foundation has awarded a five-year S-STEM (Scholarships in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) grant of $649,383 to Albertus Magnus College. The award will fund scholarships and capacity-building activities intended to increase the number of graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce or to pursue graduate studies in one of the STEM fields.
“The commitment and dedication of all involved led to the funding of a project that will benefit our students, Albertus and the larger community,” said Dr. Sean O’Connell, vice president for academic affairs.
Dr. Patricia Compagnone-Post, professor of biology, is the principal investigator for the grant. “We are so enthused that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has supported Albertus Magnus College’s strategic plan to develop a science program centered on high-impact teaching practices and challenging educational opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. The tradition of science at Albertus Magnus stems from its founding, with the patron of the college having written prolifically on subjects related to the natural and physical sciences,” she said.
Co-principal investigators on the grant are Dr. Loel Tronsky, professor of psychology and education, and Dr. Mark Case, professor and mathematics program director. The faculty on the S-STEM team collaborated with several administrative departments, including admissions, financial aid and career counseling, to create the proposal.
In the fall of 2017, five academically talented students who have demonstrated financial need and commit to majoring in biology, chemistry or mathematics, will receive scholarships from the S-STEM grant. Scholarships will average $9,750 per year and be awarded for all four years as long as students participate in planned grant activities, maintain an overall G.P.A. of 3.2, and a STEM G.P.A. of 3.0. Additional scholarships will be awarded in the fall of 2018 and 2019 to two cohorts of both incoming freshmen and transfer students.
As part of the planned activities, the college is partnering with Arvinas, a bio-pharmaceutical firm in New Haven’s Science Park, to offer experiential learning opportunities for students. Three students currently are interns on the Arvinas project investigating the efficacy of a novel drug to treat breast cancer. Albertus is also partnering with the Yale West Campus to introduce students to state of the art research technologies.
Other activities include a seminar series with invited speakers from STEM-related businesses and academic institutions, field trips to local STEM industries, monthly lunches with STEM faculty and service learning opportunities through tutoring local K-12 STEM. Find more information atalbertus.edu/S-STEM.
A Catholic College in the Dominican Tradition, Albertus Magnus College was founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of Peace. It has 1,550 students enrolled in its traditional undergraduate program, accelerated degree programs for adults and 10 graduate programs, including the only M.A. in Art Therapy in the state of Connecticut.