San Jacinto College awarded grant to increase number of students in STEM

Program to encourage more STEM majors to meet occupation demands

Jeannie Peng-Armao -- October 1, 2012

PASADENA, Texas – San Jacinto College has received a grant to award 100 students with $2,500 scholarships to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) Scholars program, funded by a $250,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, will provide San Jacinto College students with the scholarships, tutorial assistance, and mentorship programs with faculty and industry leaders. It will follow the model of the College's nationally recognized work with the Houston Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program, which helps STEM minority students participate in summer internships and transfer to four-year institutions.

"One of the most exciting things about this grant is that it's a collaboration between academic and technical education, for students looking for jobs and for those who want to pursue a four-year degree," said Sharon Sledge, San Jacinto College mathematics professor. Sledge wrote the grant along with James Sells, mathematics department chair, and Scott Hairston, director of grants development with the office of grants management.

Students graduating with STEM degrees have declined, according to a 2012 report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee. However, employment in STEM occupations is expected to expand faster than employment in non-STEM occupations in the next eight years.

"About 6 percent of university students major in engineering," said Sells. "In comparison, about 65 percent of the jobs available through university placement services are for engineers."

A greater emphasis on communicating the benefits of STEM education to students is needed, according to the report, and having a mentor significantly influences students’ decisions to pursue STEM degrees and occupations.

The T-STEM Scholars program incorporates a supportive peer culture along with services like math/science tutorial labs, student success centers, monthly STEM seminars, robotics programs, summer internships, and clubs such as engineering and robotics. Eligible programs of study include the areas of computer science/information technology, engineering, engineering drafting, biological sciences, physical sciences, math, statistics, and various fields in health sciences.

For more information about the T-STEM Scholars program at San Jacinto College, contact Sharon Sledge at sharon.sledge@sjcd.edu. The deadline to apply for the T-STEM Scholars program for Spring 2013 is Nov. 30, 2012.

All San Jacinto College grant proposals are developed, facilitated, and reviewed by the office of grants management, which also assists with the budget and fiscal management of each of the grants. The College was awarded $9,637,228 in grant funding in 2011-2012, bringing the total amount of grant requests to $44,454,839.

About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.