YSU joins effort to boost numbers in tech fields

Fifteen universities areparticipating statewide.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University is among 15 Ohio universities participating in a $3.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation aimed at increasing the number of minority students who earn bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
The NSF's Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program is named in honor of the congressman from Cleveland and funds 31 alliances nationwide. Ohio State University will lead a consortium of 15 universities and four other agencies in the state to form the Ohio Science and Engineering Alliance. The alliance hopes to double the number of minority undergraduate students earning bachelor's degrees in science and high-tech fields and increase the number of minority students who go on to pursue graduate degrees.
The NSF grant provides $700,000 annually for five years to support projects designed to enhance the recruitment, retention and graduation of minority students as well as to encourage participants to attend graduate school.
"The alliance is a unique effort to enhance minority student participation in areas that are critical to the state's future," said OSU President Karen A. Holbrook. "This is an important initiative for Ohio, and I am delighted that we are helping to lead the effort."
Key issues
The alliance will address key issues, beginning with the freshman experience and following through with research opportunities for juniors and seniors. It also will focus on professional development, including networking opportunities for students and workshops for faculty and staff who work with campus programs involved in the Alliance.
In addition to YSU and OSU, other participating universities are University of Akron, Bowling Green State University, Case Western Reserve University, Central State University, Cleveland State University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Dayton, Kent State University, Miami University, Ohio University, the University of Toledo, Wilberforce University and Wright State University.