Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation

The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program is an alliance-based program. The program's theory isbased on the Tinto model for student retention referenced in the 2005 LSAMP program evaluation.1 Theoverall goal of the program is to assist universities and collegesin diversifying the nation's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce by increasing the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to populationshistorically underrepresented in these disciplines: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders. LSAMP's efforts to increase diversity in STEM are aligned with the goals of the Federal Government's five-year strategic plan for STEM education, Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education. The LSAMP program takes a comprehensive approach to student development and retention.Particular emphasis is placed on transforming undergraduate STEM education through innovative, evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies, and relevant educational experiences in support of racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines. TheLSAMP programalsosupports knowledge generation, knowledge utilization, assessment of program impacts anddissemination activities.The program seeks new learning and immediate diffusion of scholarly research into the field. Under this program, funding for STEM educational and broadeningparticipationresearch activities could include research to develop new models in STEM engagement, recruitment and retention practices for all critical pathways to STEM careers orresearch on interventions such as mentoring, successful learning practices and environments, STEM efficacy studies, and use of technology to improve learning or student engagement. Overall, the LSAMP program provides funding to alliances that implement comprehensive, evidence-based, innovative, and sustained strategies that ultimately result in the graduation of well-prepared, highly-qualified students from underrepresented minoritygroups who pursue graduate studies or careers in STEM. Project types under this program include:

1. Alliances.

Alliances are consortia of multiple degree-granting institutions. Organizations from other sectors, including informal science organizations,may be participants. Projects focus on pre-college and undergraduate recruitment and retention activities. Types of LSAMP alliances are described as follows:

    a. STEM Pathways Implementation-Only Alliance projectsare mainly focused on a particular STEM pathway or transition, e.g., entry into college, first two years, or preparation for entry into graduate studies. Additionally, the project may focus onactivities dedicated to diversifyinga particular STEM discipline. These projects aretargeted to newly-created alliances, reconstitutedalliancesor alliances that have receivedsupport by the program for 10 years or less. Initial institutionalization and sustainability planning for the alliance should be addressed in the project description. Projects are five years in duration.

    b. STEM Pathways and Research Alliancesare projects that focus on the full STEM pathway and provide direct support for undergraduate studentsbut also serve as a hub for the production of scholarly STEM research and evaluation to increase the knowledge-base and utilization in broadening participation. Projects are required to address the current state of its institutionalization and sustainability efforts and address these areas in evaluation planning. All required components must be addressed to be competitive for this project type. These are five-year projects.

    c. Bridge to the Baccalaureate (B2B) Alliancesinvolve associate degree producing institutionsfor whichthe lead institution must be a community college.These projects focus on activities that provide effective educational preparation of community college students from underrepresented minority populationsfor successful transfer to four-year institutions in STEM degree programs. Initial institutionalization and sustainability planning for the alliance should be addressed in the project description. These are three-year projects.

2.Bridge to the Doctorate (BD)Activity:BD projects are projects that focus on providing post-baccalaureate fellowship support to a cohort of 12 LSAMP students for the first two years of their STEM graduate studies and provides the necessary academic and research skills that will enable them to successfully earn STEMdoctoral degrees and transition into the STEM workforce.Only institutions in well-established alliancesfunded 10or moreconsecutive years are eligible for this funding opportunity. These are two-year projects. ------------
1Clewell, B.C., Cosentino de Cohen, C. , Tsui, L. and Deterding, N. (2006). Revitalizing the Nation's Talent Pool in STEM. Urban Institute. Washington, D.C.

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - The following may submit as lead and formal partner organization forAlliances (B2B, SPIO, SPRA) and BD project types:

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
• Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.
• For-profit Organizations: U.S. commercial organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education.