The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ a grant of more than $1.8 million through its Improving Undergraduate STEM Education HSI program to support the success of Latino and other underrepresented students pursuing a major within STEM fields.

Last year, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. This designation is for higher education institutions that serve more than 25 percent Hispanic/Latino undergraduate students. As of Fall 2019, 28.3 percent (16,848) of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s undergraduate student body identified as Hispanic/Latino.

This is the first HSI grant of its kind, which ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ has been awarded to improve student learning. The designation opens doors to more grants, specifically those which are intended to help underrepresented students.

This grant will aid in the development of a scalable educational ecosystem for building STEM capacity at HSIs, says Pegasus Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineer Ronald DeMara, the principal investigator on the grant.

Co-investigators on the grant include Professor Florencio HernΓ‘ndez and Assistant Professor Laurie Campbell.

β€œI believe that this grant will be a source of inspiration and encouragement for all underrepresented communities in the region to unite efforts and celebrate achievements as one family.” β€” Florencio HernΓ‘ndez

DeMara identifies the project’s four pillars of reach as follows:

  • determining the effects of graduate and undergraduate faculty, teaching assistants, and peer mentors trained in culturally relevant teaching approaches on learning, engagement and degree attainment;
  • evaluating and refining the deployment of an innovative assessment infrastructure to promote student learning, retention, advancement and graduation of students from HSIs;
  • creating an automated micro-credentialing tool that would provide access to community internships while developing student self-efficacy; and
  • developing culturally relevant curricular materials to train STEM faculty, graduate teaching assistants and peer tutors.

β€œThe Latino population in Central Florida and at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ will continue to grow, and there is a significant need for equitable representation of Latino talent in STEM,” says Cyndia MuΓ±iz, director of HSI culture and partnerships. β€œThis requires intentional support systems and access to resources that promote professional development in these fields. This HSI grant is a significant contribution to those efforts.”

On a micro-level, this grant benefits those students who struggle to pursue their professional aspirations. ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is dedicated to providing intentional programs and experiences that Β prepare students to thrive in- and outside of the classroom. This includes innovative pedagogy that resonates with Latinx and other underrepresented student populations.

β€œΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ has made it their mission to facilitate the lives of students like me,” says Ernest GonzΓ‘lez, a civil engineering major and peer mentor.Β β€œIt was educators and programs funded by initiatives like these that allowed me to get a civil engineering internship from my first semester of my sophomore year all the way to the second semester of my junior year.”

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is sixth in the nation for awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanic students and aspires to be a national HSI model. Through these new federal grant opportunities, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ will continue to make strides in research, student support and the economic development of the Central Florida region, MuΓ±iz says.

For co-investigator Florencio HernΓ‘ndez, the project is an opportunity to change lives.

β€œI believe that this grant will be a source of inspiration and encouragement for all underrepresented communities in the region to unite efforts and celebrate achievements as one family,” says HernΓ‘ndez.