SOUTH DAKOTA: $1.5M NSF grant to BHSU helps more low-income STEM students graduate
Black Hills State University is planning to use a $1.5 million NSF grant to help low-income science and math students graduate. The grant will give 24 students a $10,000 annual scholarship. In addition to scholarships, the grant will also create research positions for low-income students who normally wouldn’t qualify due to low GPAs. The grant will also pay for extra tutoring services and training for faculty.
“Through this grant, we’re trying to develop new mechanisms through which to engage these students,” said Dr. Dan Asunskis, a chemistry professor at the school. “Students that participate in research overwhelmingly get to graduation, so that’s one of the reasons why we’re trying to link up the low-income students with research opportunities.”