The five-year U.S. Department of Education grant — for Project STEM: Evidence-based Approaches to STEM Enrollment, Retention and Graduation at an Urban Public Hispanic-Serving Institution — provides for:
- $750,000 for the purchase of state-of-the-art scientific equipment and software;
- Outfitting of student study spaces in NJCU's Science Building, currently under construction and renovation;
- Installation of lecture capture technology in science classrooms.
"This generous federal grant will impact significantly the future of STEM in New Jersey and beyond," NJCU President Sue Henderson said.
"By increasing Latino participation in the STEM professions, we will take an important step toward strategically building our nation's workforce, strengthening our scientific community, and advancing global research and innovation."
Over the past 10 years, NJCU's STEM programs grew to approximately 14 percent of its undergraduate population and now number approximately 900 students.
Officials say the goal of the initiative is to increase graduation rates and enhance the educational experience of STEM majors.