The National Science Foundation (NSF) has partnered with Mills College to improve educational opportunities for students by creating a first-year experience through employment or graduate school transition program to support STEM students from low income families. A special focus of the program is on developing leadership skills and tools for students in STEM, thus addressing a gap in the STEM workforce.
Mills College will advance the goals of the NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) by:
The NSF SURPASS Scholars at Mills receive substantial financial support of up to $38,000 over four years, as well as other support mechanisms which have included the Hellman Summer Science and Math summer bridge program, targeted faculty advising, themed housing community, and specially designed workshops focused on academic and leadership development. To enhance recruiting efforts for minority women, a special Minority Women in STEM Lecture Series has also been deployed. As a result, students should complete their degree in four years and be well prepared for work or graduate study within a STEM field.
The eligibility criteria for participation in NSF SURPASS are:
NSF SURPASS Scholarship Program supports 14 low-income students (one cohort of six entering first year classes in 2016 and one of eight entering in 2017) who are pursuing STEM majors.
Currently, we have six students in their senior year at Mills College, and six students in their junior year. Two NSF SURPASS Scholarships are currently available to eligible juniors or seniors. Visit our NSF SURPASS Scholarship application web page for detailed information.
The National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program addresses the need for a high-quality STEM workforce
in areas of national priorities. The program seeks to increase and understand the
success of low-income, academically talented students with demonstrated financial
need who are pursuing associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degrees in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Recognizing that scholarships alone cannot address
low retention and graduation rates in STEM, the program provides funds to institutions
of higher education for scholarships and for establishing systems of high-quality,
evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities that support student success,
retention, transfer, and graduation in STEM.
–National Science Foundation
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1565160. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
For specific NSF SURPASS Scholar information or questions, please contact:
Helen Walter, PhD
Principle Investigator
hwalter@mills.edu
510.430.2035
Visit the NSF website to view details about the grant, award, and co-investigators.