A $5 Million grant will help increase the number of STEM graduates at this HSI

 

POSTED ON Nov 17, 2021

 

Indiana University Northwest has announced a $5 million grant from the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and Articulation Program at the Department of Education. According to IU Northwest, the grant will fund a program called Transforming IU Northwest for Opportunities in Stem, or TRIUNFOS (“triumphs”) for short.

IU Northwest was eligible to apply for the grant because of its designation as an HSI. The student body is 26 percent Hispanic. The goal of the grant is to increase the number of students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields, with a focus on Hispanic and low-income students.

“This grant is a testament to IU Northwest’s leadership in creating opportunities for the people of Northwest Indiana,” said Chancellor Ken Iwama in a statement. “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 project was developed by an interdisciplinary team of STEM faculty. The project will be led by principal investigator Dr. Kristin Huysken, an associate dean for student success in the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of geology; Dr. Jenny Fisher, assistant professor of biology (co-principal investigator); and Dr. Vesna Kilibarda, professor of mathematics (also co-PI).

“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,” Louie Gonzalez, chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College’s Lake County campus, said. “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.” Read more here.