WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that Central State University, a historically black college, will receive $600,000 for science and engineering learning communities. During a three year period, CSU will receive $200,000 each year to fund the initiative. The funding is distributed through the Minority Science Improvement Program at the U.S. Department of Education.  

"Central State University is one of Ohio's great institutions of higher learning and these funds will help keep our students competitive in new science and technology jobs," said Brown.  "These funds will help CSU contribute to our goal of bringing 21st-century jobs to the Ohio valley."

The Minority Science Improvement Program distributes grants to bolster science and engineering education opportunities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), like Central State, and other predominately minority institutions. This award will fund learning communities for students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for a total of three years.

The Extra Classroom Environments for Learning in STEM (EXCELS) project supports STEM students at CSU by providing structured, weekly mentoring and tutoring session in the gatekeeper mathematics courses: Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus I, and Calculus II.

The project will also support a half-time Curriculum Specialist who will develop a master section of homework and test assignments and assist faculty in implementing the master section of each course.

Ohio is ranked 37th in the nation in percentage of the workforce with a bachelor's degree and 38th with an associate's degree. Brown is working to change those statistics through legislation and partnerships with Ohio's higher education leaders. STEM efforts will help engage more young people in math and science and who will work in tomorrow's high-tech companies.

In April, Brown chaired a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing at Metro Early College High School, a STEM-focused high school serving students in Franklin County. The hearing focused on Career and College Readiness in Practice. For more information, click http://help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=91d05bb2-5056-9502-5d8e-1147c2023465.

 

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