With a Latino student population comprising nearly a third of its more than 16,000 enrollment, The City College of New York’s designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution is receiving another boost from the National Science Foundation in 2018. City College is a recipient of the first NSF grant designed to enhance undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at HSIs.
CCNY had the only successful proposal from the Northeast among seven winners nationally announced by the NSF today.
“For decades, NSF has worked to provide members of communities traditionally underserved in STEM with access to STEM education and opportunities in STEM careers,” said Jim Lewis, acting NSF assistant director, Education and Human Resources. “Through our HSI Program, NSF aims to identify the most critical challenges and important opportunities for learners in undergraduate STEM education at HSIs.”
Established in 2017, the HSI Program is the result of NSF’s work with the HSI community and lawmakers to find ways to bolster the quality of undergraduate STEM education.
At CCNY, the NSF’s $100,000 grant will support an initiative entitled “Urbano-Increasing Access and Success in Urban STEM,” led by Jorge E. Gonzalez of the Grove School of Engineering.
“URBANO is a conference we’re are organizing this spring to explore challenges that Urban HSI/STEM institutions face in their quest to provide a quality, 21st Century education to a large number of students,” said Gonzalez. “Hispanics are the fastest growing demographic in the nation and are expected to make up 30% of the population by 2050. Their full participation in STEM is essential for the nation to maintain its global leadership.”
More than 100 experts in STEM education will present solutions for increased access to students; modernizing curriculums, and applying technology in the classroom. This is all in response to the growing need for a skilled and diverse workforce.
Overall, the NSF grant brings to more than $5 million its funding for HSI programs at CCNY since 2017.
About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided low-cost, high-quality education for New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. Today more than 16,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight professional schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.
