JMU Partnership Receives $1.5 Million to Promote STEM Education
HARRISONBURG—September 18, 2008 - Efforts by James Madison University (JMU) and other area colleges and universities to boost enrollment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors have received nearly $1.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The NSF money will be used to run a summer "get ahead" type program for students who are interested in STEM majors and who need extra preparation to do college-level work.
"It's a way for students to really build some momentum at the outset and be ready to succeed on the first day of school," said Bob Kolvoord, professor of Integrated Science and Technology at James Madison University and project director. Kolvoord worked with representatives of Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, and SRI International to get the $1,476,668 grant.
The project will work with rising freshmen who have been accepted by one of the four schools. More than 50 students will take part in different aspects of the project each year. Students and faculty from all four institutions will work together during the summer program and learning communities will be established to build relationships and support through the academic year. The project will also help place students in summer internships to let them experience science and technology in the workplace.
SRI International will be in charge of project evaluation and will continue to build its research on workforce development.
In three years the program will be eligible for another $1 million, which will enable it to continue for two years. The goal of the program is to generate an additional 200 STEM degrees at the four institutions in the next five years.
“The whole idea is to build and sustain higher numbers across the different STEM fields in both the basic and applied sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology,” Kolvoord said.
About SRI International
Silicon Valley-based SRI International is one of the world's leading independent research and technology development organizations. SRI, which was founded by Stanford University as Stanford Research Institute in 1946 and became independent in 1970, has been meeting the strategic needs of clients and partners for more than 60 years. Perhaps best known for its invention of the computer mouse and interactive computing, SRI has also been responsible for major advances in networking and communications, robotics, drug discovery and development, advanced materials, atmospheric research, education research, economic development, national security, and more. The nonprofit institute performs sponsored research and development for government agencies, businesses, and foundations. SRI also licenses its technologies, forms strategic alliances, and creates spin-off companies. In 2007, SRI’s consolidated revenues, including its wholly owned for-profit subsidiary, Sarnoff Corporation, were approximately $450 million.
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