ED expands STEM programs at HSI with rich and storied history

 

POSTED ON Jan 28, 2020

 

St Mary’s University, one of the earliest Hispanic-serving Institutions in Texas,  has opened a new exhibit on Latinos and Marianist education in San Antonio. According to the university, public history graduate student Edgar Velázquez Reynald helped Gerald E. Poyo, Ph.D. tell the story of St. Mary’s, where 60% of the student population identifies as  Hispanic.  The exhibit is now on display at the Marianist Archives.

In related news,  the U.S. Department of Education has awarded St. Mary’s more than $2.9 million. The university received the grant through the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program and will use the grant funding to continue implementing its vision for excellence in science, technology, engineering and math  (STEM) education.

Previously, a separate $1 million gift for STEM scholarships was announced, bringing the total for recent funding to the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology and its students to $3.9 million.

“This significant federal grant greatly enhances our ability to continue responding to the demand for STEM education on our campus,” University President Thomas Mengler said in a statement. “We are  energized by the impact this grant will have and our ability to serve the emerging STEM needs of our region,” Mengler said.

The grant will assist in funding construction of a drone laboratory, creation of a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science program, creation of a Construction Management certification, redesign of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management program, faculty and student professional development, programming for career and postgraduate education success, addition of faculty members in Computer/Software Engineering, Engineering Management and Construction Engineering along with adding a drone lab technician.

“This grant will enable the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology to take another significant step forward,” said Winston Erevelles, dean of the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology.