The National Science Foundation’s Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program has awarded Molloy University a $3.5 million grant to support underrepresented students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) throughout a group of seven private colleges in New York state, according to a university news release.

 

The program focuses on Latino, African American, American Indian and Alaska Native students and seeks to diversify the nation’s STEM workforce by providing colleges and universities with the funding necessary to implement strategies that support such students in their pursuit of graduate studies or careers in STEM.

 

“This partnership and collaboration for a grant among seven Catholic universities is unique, creative and noteworthy,” said James Lentini, Molloy University’s president, in the news release. “This is important and valuable for the communities and populations we serve. It is good for the region.”

 

Molloy University is one of seven member institutions from the Lower Hudson Valley Catholic Colleges and Universities Consortium that will benefit from the grant; the other colleges are Manhattan College, Mount Saint Mary College, St. Francis College, St. John’s University, St. Joseph’s University New York and St. Thomas Aquinas College.

 

In related news, a report published last year uncovered a significant underrepresentation of Latino physicians in the United States.

 

Although Latinos account for almost 18% of the U.S. population, the report found that Latinos made up only 6.3% of the physician population. Latinas, specifically, made up a mere 2.4%. What’s more, in California, where Latinos account for 39% of the population, only 6% of physicians are Latino.

 

According to the news release, the alliance will seek to achieve the following overarching goals:

 

  1. Increase the enrollment of underrepresented minorities in STEM majors.
  2. Improve first- to second-year retention.
  3. Foster strong STEM/scientist identities through STEM enrichment activities.
  4. Support successful entry into graduate study and STEM careers.

 

“We are truly excited about this opportunity for our students and our institutions,” said Donald “DJ” Mitchell Jr., Molloy’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.

 

In similar news, John Jay College of Criminal Justice recently received a National Science Foundation grant to support Latino and African-American STEM students.

 

To read more, click #Grant or #Diversity. There, you’ll find headlines such as “Report Highlights Need for Latino Physicians,” “Medical Students Establish Wellness Clinics for Latinos in Ohio” and “How Cancer Centers Plan to Enhance Diversity in Research, Clinical Care and Leadership.”