NSF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program is one of a sequence of four NSF programs which seek to build productive capacity and output within institutions with significant enrollments of minority populations underrepresented within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professionals.

This program is aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of students successfully completing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM) baccalaureate degree programs, and increasing the number of students interested in, academically qualified for and matriculated into programs of graduate study. LSAMP supports sustained and comprehensive approaches that facilitate achievement of the long-term goal of increasing the number of students who earn doctorates in STEM fields, particularly those from populations underrepresented in STEM fields. The program goals are accomplished through the formation of alliances. Phase I awards place emphasis on aggregate baccalaureate production. Phase II awards augment the Phase I emphasis with attention to individual student retention and progression to baccalaureate degrees. Phase III awards augment the Phase I and Phase II emphases with attention to aggregate student progression to graduate school entry.

While the LSAMP program supports activities that focus specifically on undergraduate STEM education, projects must also give consideration to the critical transition points in STEM education (i.e., high school-to-college; 2-year to 4-year college; undergraduate-to-workplace; undergraduate-to-graduate study; and graduate study-to-faculty career). The scope and scale of an LSAMP project (i.e., the number of transition points addressed) may vary among proposals, depending on project focus, needs, and goals.

The LSAMP program supports comprehensive attention to those processes and factors that promote baccalaureate attainment, preparation for graduate study, and preparation for successful careers by students within alliances. These alliances may include partners drawn from among two- and four-year higher education institutions, businesses and industries, national research laboratories, local, state, and Federal agencies.

Success of the LSAMP program has been measured by its ability to cause a significant increase in the number of students, particularly those drawn from populations which are currently underserved in science and engineering fields, who graduate with baccalaureate degrees in STEM fields. With the components contained within this announcement, the program's metrics will expand to include individual student persistence to baccalaureate attainment, and entry of students into programs of graduate study.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Organization Limit: The program is limited to alliances of academic institutions which have exemplary records over several years of enrolling and retaining significant numbers of undergraduate students underrepresented in STEM disciplines. One institution must be designated as the lead institution for the project. A single institution may participate in only one alliance. Individual institutions and single departments are ineligible for support. Alliances are expected to involve two- and four-year higher education institutions, businesses and industries, national research laboratories, local, state, and Federal agencies. As a demonstration of organizational commitment and as an aid toward building sustaining support for LSAMP activities, 100 percent cost-share is required.