A Strong Alliance

By Patrick Bohn, August 26, 2021

IC receives $2 million NSF grant to provide undergraduate STEM education to historically underrepresented groups.

A collage of STEM photos: A book, globe, telescope, microscope, computers and beaker.

(Photo by Bloomicon/Shutterstock)

As part of a partnership with six other upstate New York colleges, Ithaca College received a five-year, $2 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant from the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program.

The goal of the program is to provide undergraduate STEM education to racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines through innovative, evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies, and relevant educational experiences. The NSF defines race/ethnicity historically underrepresented in STEM as: African American, Hispanic American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Native Pacific Islander.

“Ithaca College is dedicated to supporting students of color and providing students with undergraduate research opportunities in STEM. We have a lot of resources in place, and this allows us to do what we were already doing on a larger scale.”

Te-Wen Lo, associate professor of biology

The State University of New York College at Cortland, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Utica College, Herkimer Community College, and Tompkins Cortland Community College will be the college’s partners in the grant.

“When we were putting this together, we realized that each school in the partnership brings unique strengths to the table,” said Te-Wen Lo, associate professor of biology. “IC is dedicated to supporting students of color and providing students with undergraduate research opportunities in STEM. We have a lot of resources in place, and this allows us to do what we were already doing on a larger scale.”

The money will be divided among the schools, to allow them to tailor experiences to the specific needs of its students. There will also be money reserved for collaborative endeavors.

A total of seven schools will take part in the partnership.

Lynn Cortese, director of the college’s office of access, opportunity & achievement, outlined some of the next steps.

“We’ll be working with the Office of Admission to recruit incoming students to participate in a pre-first year program to get exposure to labs, meet with faculty and staff mentors, and create a cohort as they enter their STEM major,” she said. “Then, they’ll take advantage of sophomore-year research opportunities to help them get nuts and bolts skills and open the door for further research or internships.”

One of the major benefits to the program is that Ithaca students will be able to utilize faculty, and resources at the partner institutions, and vice versa.

“For example, we have students who are interested in types of biology that our faculty don’t focus on,” said Lo. “But if faculty at an alliance institution does, our students will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to work with them.”

“Faculty and staff will also have opportunities to advance outcomes for students from underrepresented backgrounds. One of the best things about this grant is to take a big picture look at where inequities exist and how to change them.”

Lynn Cortese, director, office of access, opportunity & achievement

Funds will also be used to bring in speakers and allow travel to conferences. Beyond those tangible experiences, Cortese hopes there will be other benefits.

“For our students of color, being at a predominantly white institution can feel very isolating, especially in the STEM fields,” she said. “LSAMP will be a place where they make connections, find that community, and find that confidence. Faculty and staff will also have opportunities to advance outcomes for students from underrepresented backgrounds. One of the best things about this grant is to take a big picture look at where inequities exist and how to change them.

“There are so many people who really want to advance diverse representation in the STEM fields, and I’m excited for more students to have these opportunities.”

Lynn Cortese

“We want to make sure we’re filling a gap for students who will benefit from these experiences,” she continued. “We want to increase their sense of belonging and the sense that they’re able to thrive.”

Both Lo and Cortese were thankful for support from the college.

“I think it’s important to acknowledge all the work [director of corporate and foundation relations] Warren Calderone and his office did to get this grant,” Lo said. “They really went above and beyond. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

“There was so much support from Provost Cornish, and [dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences] Melanie Stein,” said Cortese. “There are so many people who really want to advance diverse representation in the STEM fields, and I’m excited for more students to have these opportunities.”