Louis Stokes Renewal STEM Pathways and Research Alliance: Houston Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

Texas Southern University, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program assists universities and colleges in their efforts to significantly increase the numbers of students matriculating into and successfully completing high quality degree programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Particular emphasis is placed on transforming undergraduate STEM education through innovative, evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies, and relevant educational experiences. These strategies facilitate the production of well-prepared students highly qualified and motivated to pursue graduate education or careers in STEM. For the United States to remain globally competitive, it is vital that it taps into the talent of all its citizens and provides exceptional educational preparedness in STEM areas that underpin the knowledge-based economy. The Houston LSAMP STEM Pathways & Research Alliance (H-LSAMP) has formed an alliance in response to the need for a more competitive and skilled technical workforce. That need still exists and is particularly acute in Texas. The institutions that make up the Alliance include Texas Southern University (the lead institution), Texas State University, the University of Houston, the University of Houston-Downtown, and the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Through this project, the Alliance will provide students with research experiences, mentoring, supplemental instruction opportunities, activities to build community among students, and dedicated program space. In addition, H-LSAMP will be a model and a resource in longitudinal assessment analysis for long-standing, multidimensional student success programs, contributing to the body of knowledge in the educational research space. The Alliance team is also committed to disseminating lessons learned through practice and research to audiences within the state, region and nationwide, supporting the National Science Foundation's strategic goal to "empower STEM talent to fully participate in science and engineering" by improving conditions for students in STEM and helping build a well-prepared STEM workforce. 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.