The HBU College of Science and Engineering and the Department of Student Success and Advising are pleased to announce the award of a $3 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Title V funding program for Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions (DHSI) program. Award # P031S190153 helps meet the nation鈥檚 call for a well-prepared and technologically advanced industry workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields by enhancing the University鈥檚 academic and research-based programming in the sciences, engineering, and cyber/computer sciences areas. This Title V project is the second Title V grant the University has successfully obtained.
The new equipment and programming supported by this award will benefit all students at HBU with a specific focus on facilitating Hispanic students in completing their STEM degrees. As a four-year private institution, HBU has the distinction of being a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). It serves more than 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students, and ranks according to the U.S. News & World Report. During the past five years, HBU has supported students in completing their degrees as a result of prior Title V award #P031S140068, which focused on improving the overall fall-to-fall retention rate of undergraduate students. National and institutional data indicates a need to reinforce the academic preparedness of students interested in STEM and to support them holistically through to graduation and beyond.
Dr. Stan Napper, dean of the College of Science and Engineering, expressed appreciation for the funding from the Department of Education and for the 鈥済reat collaboration with the Department of Student Success and Advising.鈥� Together, we can achieve 鈥渢he vision of the College: to be the best in the world for integrating principles of聽science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with modern聽computing and information technology (IT), along with聽Christian values and standards (Faith). Our graduates will work to make the world healthier, more productive and more secure.鈥�
Dr. David Hao, dean of Student Success, reflects that 鈥渙ur first Title V grant was transformative for our campus, and this new grant builds upon that strong foundation. At HBU, we are always moving forward and finding innovative ways to support our students; my team and I are thrilled to partner with our colleagues across campus to continue that momentum through this new grant.鈥�
A substantial portion of Title V resources will be dedicated to modernizing HBU鈥檚 infrastructure, supporting the engineering and science programs. Advances will include the areas of STEM equipment, instrumentation, technology, and the expansion of undergraduate and graduate programming in STEM to meet the incredible industry demand in Houston and across the country. Simultaneously, HBU will build on its long-term goal of reinforcing the pipeline guiding undergraduate students into graduate and professional education by expanding the STEM-specific advising services on campus. Faculty development activities supported by the award will empower faculty learning in pedagogy and in achieving learning outcomes for all students, especially underrepresented students.
These innovative programs, along with a STEM success coaching program, launching a STEM Student Ambassador peer-tutor program, and implementing a STEM Summer Bridge, will target those students needing additional support in foundational STEM courses. The resulting increases in student persistence and timely graduation rates will narrow the gap experienced by Hispanic and other underrepresented students to college degree attainment in the high-demand STEM fields.
鈥淲e want to give a special 鈥榯hank you鈥� to the faculty, staff and administration who supported and assisted the development of the proposal, including our Grants Office and Office of Finance, for their excellent work throughout this project,鈥� said Drs. Hao and Napper. 鈥淭his grant is a game-changer for our campus and our students, and we look forward to managing it together.鈥�