Indiana University Northwest awarded $5 million to increase STEM field graduates
A grant from the U.S. Department of Education will fund a new program at Indiana University Northwest to improve its STEM program with redesigned curriculum, student support services, and infrastructure improvements.
Increasing the rate of graduates with STEM degrees, particularly among Hispanic and low-income students, is the goal of a new project at Indiana University Northwest. A $5-million grant from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) will fund TRIUNFOS (Transforming IU Northwest for Opportunities in STEM). IU Northwest was eligible for this grant due to its being designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the DOE. The grant, scheduled to be dispersed over five years, will support the four components of the TRIUNFOS program.
IU Northwest claims the most diverse student body of any IU campus across the state, according to statistics published in a news release from the university, with 26% of students identifying as Hispanic and 17% identifying as African American. The program aims to help increase the rates of STEM degrees among Hispanic and low-income students through four strategic elements. The first component of TRIUNFOS will make curriculum changes to better support STEM-based learning for first-year students. Second, it will improve student support services with things like peer mentoring, student employment, and academic advising. Third, TRIUNFOS will focus on regional partnerships with high schools, community colleges, and employers. Fourth, a new STEM Resource Center will be established, servicing both IU Northwest students and its educational partners.
The project was planned by administrators and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences with an interdisciplinary team led by professors of geology, biology, and mathematics. IU Northwest Chancellor Ken Iwama said, "This grant is a testament to IU Northwest's leadership in creating opportunities for the people of Northwest Indiana. Establishing a center of excellence for STEM education is an ambitious goal and this grant brings us closer to realizing this game-changing community asset."
The team designed the program to be a collaborative effort with other schools in the area, including Ivy Tech Community College. Louie Gonzalez, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College's Lake County campus, talked about the collaborative nature of TRIUNFOS, "With our emphasis on increasing our partnerships with local four-year colleges and universities, Ivy Tech's Lake County campus is a natural ally and partner in this endeavor. We were thrilled by this recognition and award. As the area's local community college, we serve as the entry point for many Hispanic and low-income students. The result will be a steady flow of students to Ivy Tech and eventually to IU Northwest."