Program Overview
Fitchburg State University’s S-STEM Scholarship program funded by National Science Foundation (NSF).
Fitchburg State University has received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation that will provide financial support through scholarship for academically talented STEM students with financial need, and provide academic and career development support through:
- Bi-weekly STEM career seminars
- Summer internship
- Undergraduate research
- Professional career mentorship
NSF S-STEM Scholarship program initiative will include the recruitment of four cohorts of financially eligible, academically talented students from eligible STEM majors, based on criteria, such as academic talent, interest, motivation, and communication skills. The program will enhance existing efforts to support students through STEM seminars, mentorship ladders, and career-based internship and research activities, facilitating career placement in STEM fields and building a pathway for graduate programs to support high-need communities and jobs of the future.
The program helps STEM Scholars successfully pursue postsecondary degrees and future careers in STEM. Through financial aid alongside evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities, the program will increase recruitment, retention, student success, academic/career pathways, and graduation in STEM. Over the 5 years of the grant, Fitchburg State will build a STEM Pedagogy of Real Talk (PRT) Faculty Community of Practice focused on both mentorship and curricular improvement, a PRT-informed STEM seminar program, and expanded, more student-focused partnerships for research and internships.
Program Goals
- Improve recruitment, retention, academic, and career success of domestic, low-income, academically talented students with demonstrated financial need pursuing STEM programs through scholarships coupled with PRT-guided and career-related seminars, research and internships experiences, and mentorship provided by academic, industry, and non-profit partners.
- Support the full-time and transfer-in enrollment, sense of belonging, academic success, and career development of Scholars through scholarships, PRT-guided mentorship, community centered, PRT-guided seminars, and student internship and research opportunities.
- Build institutional capacity to establish the PRT-guided STEM career development program.
Application Information
Apply to STEM major at Fitchburg State University. Apply to this scholarship when you submit FAFSA application. We offer S-STEM scholarship to eligible freshman and transfer students enrolled in STEM majors (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Information System, Engineering Technology, and Mathematics). Scholarships cover up to $15,000 per year of unmet financial need.
Unmet Financial Need = Cost of Attendance (COA) - Student Aid Index (SAI) - All Gift Aid (Grant and Other Scholarships)
- Pursuing a major in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Engineering Technology, or Mathematics.
- Demonstrate financial need through Pell Grant Eligibility determined by FAFSA application.
- Be citizens of the United States, nationals of the United States, or eligible non-citizens admitted as refugees or lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence.
Criteria 1: Academic Talent and Potential
High School or College GPA (2.7 or higher)
High School and / or Fitchburg State or other college transcript
Faculty recommendations
Criteria 2: Demonstrate Interest, Motivation, and Commitment
Some activities to demonstrate interest, motivation, and commitment are listed below but applicants can choose to submit other evidence to show they meet this criterion.
Service-learning participation
After-school activities participation (high school)
Student club participation (college)
Membership/ participation in STEM organization & activities and hobbies
Scholarship application
Criterial 3: Demonstrate Communication Skills
Personal essay (500 words) including STEM education, interests, and expected career plans.
More Information
Dr. Nirajan Mani
Program Principal Investigator
Department Chair and Associate Professor
Engineering Technology Department
Office: Conlon 209A
Email: nmani@fitchburgstate.edu
Phone: 978.665.4843
Dr. Christopher Cratsley
Program Co-Principal Investigator
Professor
Biology and Chemistry Department
Office: Antonucci Science Complex 225
Email: ccratsley@fitchburgstate.edu
Phone: 978.665.3617
Dr. Nermin Bayazit
Program Co-Principal Investigator
Professor
Mathematics Department
Office: Edgerly 301-G
Email: nbayazit@fitchburgstate.edu
Phone: 978.665.3475
Dr. Kori Ryan
Social Science Researcher
Associate Professor
Behavioral Sciences Department
Office: McKay 222
Email: kryan33@fitchburgstate.edu
Phone: 978.665.4148
Dr. Hefei Qiu
Program Co-Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor
Computer Science Department
Office: Edgerly Hall 312E
Email: hqiu@fitchburgstate.edu
Phone: 978.665.4634
Dr. Ileana Vasu
External Evaluator
Senior Lecturer
Mathematical Sciences Department
Smith College
Office: Burton 316
Email: ivasu@smith.edu
Phone: 413.585.3469
Pedagogy of Real Talk
The program is modeled through an evidence-based pedagogy designed to foster student equity and inclusion called, “the Pedagogy of Real Talk (PRT),” pioneered by Dr. Paul Hernandez. Learn more about PRT at Fitchburg State University.
Benefits of our PRT Guided S-STEM Program:
- Opportunity to participate in the “Pedagogy of Real-Talk (PRT)” guided STEM Seminars
- Academic support
- Mentorship program
- Career development through paid summer internship and undergraduate research activities
Program Activities:
- Form cohorts, orientation, and scholarship awarding
- Participate in the PRT-guided STEM seminars.
- Implement mentorship ladder model.
- Develop intensive career-based internship and research activity.
- Improve recruitment, retention, academic, and career success of STEM Scholars
- Address high need communities and jobs of the future.
PRT Guided STEM Seminar
Starting your first semester at Fitchburg State, you will be part of a cohort of scholars and attend biweekly seminars (one credit elective course) every semester. This seminar will support your sense of belonging within your STEM discipline and cohort utilizing the principles of PRT.
Career-oriented Summer Internships and Undergraduate Research
Each year, STEM Scholars will choose as internship (five-week summer internship) or undergraduate research activity based on their interests and STEM disciplines. They will have the option to conduct such a research project and present their research outcomes at various conferences, including the Undergraduate Research Conference here at FSU under the guidance of faculty sponsors.
Professional Career Mentorship
STEM scholars will meet with their faculty mentors at least biweekly. These meetings will offer a space for scholars and mentors to work together as the scholars seek out and apply to career-relevant opportunities. It is also an opportunity for scholars to receive any support that they might need.