Hinds Community College-Utica has been awarded $2.25 million from the National Science Foundation for a project that promotes diversity in STEM fields.
The project, entitled “Implementation Project: Establishing a Cohesive Community College STEM-Institutional Transformation Academy” is under the direction of Willa Russell.
Taking place at Hinds Community College’s Utica campus, the project will serve to address persistence in STEM fields. The lack of diversity in STEM is compounded by barriers to educational equity, resources, and socioeconomic disparities impacting the African American community.
In order to bridge this gap, the project will work to increase students’ completion of degrees in STEM that support their matriculation at each educational level and support their critical transitions from K-12 to four-year institutions.
Faculty and staff will engage in career enhancements key to the successful implementation of STEM and Career Technical pathways. This project is significant in its focus on developing persistence and higher degree attainment for HBCU students entering a community college.
