CSU awarded NSF grant to lead a national effort in Broadening Participation (BP) in STEM

Establishing the NSF LSAMP National Coordination Hub (LSAMP-NCH)

Chicago, IL (September 10) – Chicago State University (CSU) is a proud recipient of a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support groundbreaking efforts to transform Broadening Participation (BP) research and practice in STEM. This project, in collaboration with Rutgers University, Arizona State University, the University of Texas at El Paso, Argonne National Laboratory, and Sagefox Consulting Group, marks a significant step toward fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the STEM fields.

With the support of the NSF Louis Stokes’ Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), the grant will establish a National Coordination Hub (NCH) to engage diverse stakeholders and lead synchronized efforts to broaden participation in STEM. The hub aims to serve as a backbone organization to enhance knowledge-dissemination by bringing the LSAMP community together to exchange ideas and develop new collaborations among LSAMP and non-LSAMP partner institutions, and industry and business partners. The LSAMP-NCH will also establish a mentoring institute  and promote evidence-based strategies to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts in STEM, as well as promote publications in peer-reviewed journals.

“This grant provides us with the opportunity to engage with BP stakeholders across the country and implement strategic programs that promote a supportive and enabling environment for the minoritized populations in STEM to thrive", said Dr. Chris Botanga, Project Director of the Illinois LSAMP and Professor of Genetics & Genomics, CSU. He is also the Principal Investigator (PI) and Project Director for this project. “The NSF LSAMP-NCH will serve as a knowledge broker and to facilitate information dissemination”, he added.

“CSU is proud to lead this first of its kind national effort with a focus on broadening the participation of minority populations in STEM.” said Dr. Sonja Feist-Price, Provost & Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Ultimately, this project will have an impact on the retention and graduation of students to join the STEM workforce. The funding support from the National Science Foundation is highly appreciated.”

With the establishment of the LSAMP-NCH, CSU (Illinois LSAMP), along with Rutgers University- Newark (Garden State LSAMP), Arizona State University- ASU (WAESO LSAMP), University of Texas at El Paso - UTEP (UT System LSAMP), the Argonne National Lab, and Corporate Partners aim to support faculty development programs, mentorship opportunities, and workforce development for minoritized groups in STEM. Thus, the Hub will also foster human resource development and will position CSU and partners as a leader in broadening participation in STEM. As Illinois’ only Predominantly Black Institution (PBI), CSU is committed and specialized in educating diverse students who become leaders in the STEM disciplines.

What other Co-PIs are saying:

Alexander Gates, Director - Garden State LSAMP, Rutgers University-Newark: “The establishment of a single LSAMP Hub will help raise the level of impact of the entire LSAMP initiative and disseminate the effective best practices nationally and internationally. I am thrilled to be part of this effort.”

Jean Andino, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering; Director and PI of the Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities LSAMP, Arizona State University: “I am exceptionally excited to be part of the NCH leadership team, given our work to share and place a spotlight on trailblazing, diverse researchers and best practices for broadening participation in STEM. The NCH represents a unique opportunity to have an even larger impact on a longstanding US national challenge in promoting STEM innovation.” 

Benjamin Flores, Lewis Professor of Electrical Engineering

UT System LSAMP PI and Director, University of Texas at El Paso: “Our collaborative effort will reach a wide audience and allow us to promote broadening participation in STEM and mentoring best practices. These and other concerted efforts by our LSAMP National Hub partners will benefit future generations of students interested in pursuing research careers.” 

Meridith Bruozas, Director of Institutional Partnerships, Argonne National Laboratory: “Argonne has a strong history of supporting IL LSAMP and LSAMPs in the Midwest region, and we are excited to extend our work nationally. We look forward to connecting with university faculty on research collaborations and supporting workforce development by hosting students at Argonne and other national labs.”

Alan Peterfreund, Sagefox Consulting Group: “For the past twenty years we have been engaged with numerous LSAMPs.  We look forward to bringing that experience to the wider LSAMP community as both a resource for utilizing data and providing evaluation support that contributes to the NCH being as valuable to the community as possible.”

About Chicago State University

Chicago State University, founded in 1867, is the oldest public university in the Chicago Metropolitan area. The University’s four colleges offer nearly 60 undergraduate and graduate degree-granting and non-degree programs. CSU is committed to equity in education, serving as the only U.S. Department of Education-designated four-year Predominantly Black Institution in Illinois and ranked by a Harvard economist in the top 4% of public and private universities nationwide in supporting our graduates’ economic mobility. The University serves as a prominent civic space on the greater South Side of Chicago by hosting a multitude of athletic, educational, cultural, and recreational activities. The University is located near public transit that provides convenient access to the campus. For more information, visit here.