CONGRESSMAN MORELLE ANNOUNCES $370,000 IN FUNDING TO SUPPORT EXPANSION OF STEM EDUCATION FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS

Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced that $370,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) has been awarded to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to expand Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programming for low-income students. The funding will support RIT workshops to help community and 2-year colleges, which often lack access to STEM classes, develop programs and apply for grants to bolster their opportunities in this critical field.

"STEM careers are the future of our workforce. It is critical that we ensure all students have access to educational opportunities in these exciting fields," said Rep. Morelle. "RIT is a global leader in STEM education and I am pleased that this funding will allow them to share their expertise and partner with community colleges to encourage and expand offerings within these disciplines."

"It's critical to our national interests that we do whatever we can to grow the pipeline of students for STEM careers, and in particular to increase opportunities for low-income and disadvantaged students," said Paul Tymann, director of RIT's Center for Computing Outreach, Research and Education (C-CORE) and professor of computer science who is leading the project. "RIT has had a long history of partnering with community colleges to enable students to transfer seamlessly into the university and this federal investment will enable us to further strengthen and expand these relationships, while at the same time helping to grow the workforce talent that is critically needed for our nation's future. We appreciate Congressman Morelle's strong support and advocacy for STEM education and workforce development."

Many low-income students attend institutions of higher education that do not have robust STEM programs. This funding will aid RIT in conducting a series of webinars and workshops to help community and 2-year colleges prepare and submit effective proposals to the NSF Scholarships in STEM program and align existing faculty insights with effective evidence-based practices in STEM education. Ultimately, it will help increase and enhance educational opportunity in STEM fields and ensure students pursuing these disciplines are career-ready.

###