This past fall the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Ithaca College a five-year, $650,000 grant to recruit and retain low-income, academically talented computer science, mathematics, and physics/astronomy students. The grant will allow the college to award 14 scholarships, contribute to a positive campus climate, and support engaging academic activities.

“We must start early to continue to build a large and diverse pipeline of students who will make an impact on the future of innovation and progress,” said Kelley Sullivan, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and principal investigator for the grant.

The grant also aligns with a key goal of the Ithaca Forever strategic plan: to become a national model for colleges committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Part of that aim is to develop a campus climate that ensures students feel supported and understood.

“Oftentimes when students leave a STEM-related program it is not because they weren’t capable or no longer interested in the field,” said Sullivan. “It is because they don’t feel comfortable in the department. There is a sense of not belonging.”

IC is looking for scholars to discover common ground and strengthen support for each other by encouraging students to connect with others from different backgrounds and experiences but who share a similar interest in STEM studies. One aspect of this is a STEM residence hall floor and social events that will unite STEM students and help create meaningful connections.