News

Miami Dade Gets STEM Grant To Encourage Minority Students

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 08/04/09

Miami Dade College North Campus has garnered a grant from the United States Department of Education in support of its STEM efforts. The college will receive $865,519 for each of three years from the federal agency's new Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program to support its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Connections Program.

STEM Connections is a three-year project between Miami Dade and St. Thomas University, also in Miami. The two institutions are collaborating to increase the transition of high school minority students into college-level STEM majors. The effort has three primary goals: the transition of high school minority students, particularly women, into college level STEM majors; an increase in enrollment and retention of declared STEM majors; and the development of mentoring networks to assist and support both STEM students and faculty from these institutions.

Miami Dade will also join Miami Dade County Public Schools to develop a math and science program that connects minority students at five high schools with post-secondary STEM career-related disciplines as well as post-secondary mentors and tutors.

"With close to $9 million in grants in recent years, North Campus has been increasing its capacity in the natural sciences to offer our students excellent facilities with capability to conduct research as well as expanded programs in the sciences," said President José Vicente.