NSF Org:	DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education
Recipient:	WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Initial Amendment Date:	July 18, 2023
Latest Amendment Date:	October 5, 2023
Award Number:	2322665
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Paul Tymann ptymann@nsf.gov  (703)292-2832 DUE  Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU  Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date:	January 1, 2024
End Date:	December 31, 2029 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$2,500,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$2,500,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2023 = $2,500,000.00
History of Investigator:	Rodica Neamtu (Principal Investigator) rneamtu@wpi.edu Debra Boucher (Co-Principal Investigator) Crystal Brown (Co-Principal Investigator) Hermine Vedogbeton (Former Principal Investigator) Rodica Neamtu (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Worcester Polytechnic Institute 100 INSTITUTE RD WORCESTER MA  US  01609-2280 (508)831-5000
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	Worcester Polytechnic Institute 100 INSTITUTE RD WORCESTER MA  US  01609-2247
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	HJNQME41NBU4
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	S-STEM-Schlr Sci Tech Eng&Math
Primary Program Source:	1300CYXXDB H-1B FUND, EDU, NSF
Program Reference Code(s):	9178
Program Element Code(s):	153600
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.076

ABSTRACT

This project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need. Over its six-year duration, this project will award a total of 112 scholarships to 28 talented undergraduate students, with a demonstrated financial need, who are pursuing degrees in computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts. The project will provide academic preparation for incoming students and create student-centered support for cohort academic experiences based on previous studies of the experiences of disadvantaged and marginalized students. This project will help to close the gap between Pell-eligible and non-Pell-eligible students in their retention and graduation rates in computer science, and prepare students for success in graduate school and ultimately their professional careers.

The goals of this project include 1) closing the retention and graduation rate gap between the low-income (Pell) scholars and non-Pell computing students, and 2) providing interconnected support opportunities to enhance the academic performance and sense of belonging for students earning a B.S. degree in computer science. To meet these goals the project will study, develop, and implement an evidence-based network model where cohort peers connect, study together, and build their computer science identity throughout their college education. These activities will be evaluated based on the success, retention, and graduation of low-income students in computing. This project will advance our understanding of best practices and lessons that will assist other educators to improve STEM education. This project is funded by NSF?s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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