BELMONT, N.C. – (November 30, 2022) Belmont Abbey College is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from NCICU to support its STEM students.
The NCICU (North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities) announced a new grant for Faculty-Student STEM Mentoring. This funding will be used to enhance programs already underway for STEM majors and to expand Belmont Abbey’s current mentoring programs. One of the grant’s goals is to also improve participation in first-generation college students, minorities, and Pell grant-eligible students in the STEM field.
The proposal for this grant consisted of issuing funds to support the STEM Learning Lab currently on campus. The STEM Learning Lab focuses on helping Belmont Abbey students in the areas of Math and Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Ecology and the Physical sciences. The STEM Learning Lab will serve as a hub for faculty student interactions, peer tutoring, and peer mentoring. Upper level students are offered positions to tutor in the first year courses (College Algebra, Calculus, Math for Liberal Arts,) hold test review sessions, and meet with their first or second year mentees.
Faculty Director, Dr. White, mentions that, “The Faculty-Peer mentorship program pairs interested students in STEM related fields with a faculty and a peer mentor. Peer mentors provide camaraderie, advising from a student’s perspective, and tutoring if desired. Mentees can meet with their mentors in the STEM Learning Lab or elsewhere on campus as the pair chooses.” Mentees and mentors will attend 2-3 professional development events with Dr. White, over the course of the academic year.
In addition to the Faculty-Peer mentorship program, representatives from local industries will also be invited to discuss entry-level positions and internships with the students. Speakers from local banks, insurance firms, and the manufacturing industry will be invited to discuss STEM related job opportunities. By promoting post graduate opportunities, the mathematics department hopes to attract more students interested in STEM fields.
