The Authority Awards $70,000 To Boost Minority Involvement in STEM Majors

Monday, Jan 12, 2009

The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority recently awarded a $70,000 grant to The University of Arkansas Pine Bluff to help increase the number of underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) majors.

The grant will match funds awarded to the university by the National Science Foundation and will be used to assist the Arkansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ARK-LSAMP) in producing more well qualified STEM graduates. The National Science Foundation awarded $3.5 million to the ARK-LSAMP project in July of 2008. The ARK-LSAMP consists of the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (lead institution), Arkansas State University, Philander Smith College, Pulaski Technical College, Southeast Arkansas College, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. There are currently fifty-five students enrolled in the ARK-LSAMP program on campuses across the Alliance. Dr. Mary E. Benjamin, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, is principal investigator of the ARK-LSAMP and the Authority grant.