Scottsdale Community College (SCC) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) grant through the Innovation in Two-Year College STEM Education Program. This grant, totaling $493,944, will fund the Science Opportunities and Profession Exploration (SCOPE) project, designed to significantly enhance the success of underrepresented minority students in STEM fields.
"We are thrilled to receive this grant from the National Science Foundation," said Patricia Ashby, Ph.D., Biology Faculty at SCC. "The SCOPE project will allow us to implement a comprehensive program that supports academic success, cultivates a sense of belonging, and helps our students see themselves as future scientists. This is a critical step in closing the gap in STEM education and ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to succeed."
The SCOPE project will address barriers to success for underrepresented minority students through a multi-faceted approach that includes three levels of support:
- Self-Identification as Scientists: Students will engage in hands-on research, internships with local scientific industry partners, and participate in campus STEM events, all designed to reinforce their identity as scientists.
- Enhanced Academic Support: Faculty Learning Advocates will coordinate support services, assign course-specific peer tutoring, and encourage regular interactions between students and instructors to increase course completion rates.
- Community of Belonging: The project will foster community by organizing Family Nights, bi-weekly luncheons, and assigning peer mentors to help students navigate their college experience.
"Helping students see themselves as scientists builds the grit and motivation necessary to persist in challenging STEM fields,” says Dr. Eric Leshinskie, SCC President. ”This project is about more than just education – it's about empowerment."
SCC is one of only 35 colleges nationwide and one of two in the Maricopa Community College District to receive this inaugural grant (Estrella Mountain Community College was also awarded this grant). This distinction highlights SCC's commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM education, aligning with the NSF's mission to advance knowledge and practices in undergraduate STEM education at two-year colleges.
The first cohort of students will begin in Spring 2025, and the project will undergo rigorous evaluation to assess its impact on student retention, completion, and transfer to advanced study or the workforce. The insights gained from this project will contribute to developing best practices for supporting underrepresented minority students in STEM, benefiting both the students and the broader national goal of increasing participation in STEM fields.
SCC's success in securing this grant underscores the college's leadership in creating equitable and inclusive learning environments. The SCOPE project is set to make a lasting impact not only on the students it serves, but also on the future of STEM education at two-year colleges nationwide.
For more information about the SCOPE project and Scottsdale Community College's STEM programs, visit SCC's STEM Program Website.