The Northeast Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation has completed its award period from September 1, 2016, to August 31, 2021, having contributed meaningfully to the increase in the quality and quantity of traditionally underrepresented students in STEM disciplines completing the baccalaureate degree while encouraging and facilitating further pursuit into graduate education. From a numerical perspective, when formed less than twenty years ago, the alliance was graduating just over 150 underrepresented students in STEM but has grown to a number now just shy of 900 with an upward curve each year of existence. Total enrollment annually was barely over 1,200, but now exceeds 5,600 students per year, with, again, a continual upward curve, which solidifies the purpose of broadening participation in STEM with this population through the assistance of LSAMP.

The transformative power of the work of the alliance has been through experiences such as internships, participation in professional conferences, undergraduate research, mentorship, and international opportunities, which was actively supported across the length of the project period. Key to the accomplishments of the alliance was a commitment to building broad and inclusive communities of scholars across all six member institutions and focusing on collaboration, STEM identity, and mentorship among traditionally underrepresented populations. The Northeast LSAMP developed a consistent and structured approach in service of these goals through multiple annual collaborations that informed and prepared participants for graduate education and post-graduation careers in STEM through connecting students with mentors, graduate school recruiters, and employers through symposia, conferences, and international research experiences. An annual poster symposium gave undergraduate scholars the opportunity, in an adjudicated environment, to present their research findings to teams of professors and other professionals, as well as to peers. The building of confidence within a rigorous and supportive environment promoted the value of the research and the viability of the path to graduate education. This experience paired with an in-depth experience that drew professionals, scholars, and undergraduates all from underrepresented backgrounds, to share information, ideas, strategies, and funding opportunities to be successful in moving into graduate education, broadening participation not only in the undergraduate but the graduate levels moving forward. The combined resources of the Northeast LSAMP allowed for not only each member institution to participate meaningfully, but to also invite and support attendance by other regional institutions and two HBCUs.

Combining routine collaborations with institutional cultures that promoted undergraduate research, active participation in professional development activities, and mentorship at the peer, professional, and academic levels further increased positive outcomes among participants. Again, on an annual basis, the alliance hosted symposia that allowed for deeper learning and connections around STEM identity, undergraduate success, and graduate school possibilities, which was held on rotating campuses to allow each member to showcase unique facilities, faculty, staff, and opportunities. Through team building exercises, motivational speakers reflective of the LSAMP population, and intentional activities, the undergraduates had a collective experience that advanced understanding, motivation, and knowledge to pursue the wide variety of opportunities after the baccalaureate.

In support of quality experiences during the baccalaureate journey, the Northeast LSAMP promoted active participation in other professional and scholarly activities. In each year scores of students participated in major national professional conferences as attendees and presenters; networked with professionals in academia; and pursued internships with major corporations, national laboratories, and other large- and small-scale quality opportunities. These impacts accompanied robust participation in regional offerings from many of the same organizations, allowing student participants to choose the best-fit options for engagement.

Undergraduate research was also a significant and vibrant component within the award. In addition to hosting and promoting broadening participation in undergraduate research on each campus, coordinators actively promoted the REU, research opportunities with national laboratories, and the alliance forged two significant international collaborations for scholars to study abroad. In three years, cohorts of 12,16, and 12 participated in impactful research in China and Australia, expanding the LSAMP message globally while giving the participants culturally immersive research experiences that have a lasting impact.

The Northeast LSAMP has created systems and opportunities, and has adhered to proven methods that focus on holistic support of traditionally underrepresented students in STEM, advancing participation in every component of quality education from the baccalaureate through graduate education. The students, coordinators, and administrators form an interconnected engine that has increased STEM identity, broadened mentorship, set high expectations, and created supportive environments for growth, making marked accomplishments in advancing the mission of LSAMP and the NSF.

Last Modified: 12/20/2021
Modified by: Tadarrayl M Starke