North Star STEM Alliance: Advancing to a Mid-Level Alliance

The North Star STEM Alliance, Minnesota?s Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, proposes to advance to a mid-level alliance with the goal of doubling the number of graduates from 272 to 544 by May, 2017.

The new Bridge to the Baccalaureate program strengthens and enriches relationships with community colleges, creating smooth transitions for students before, during, and after transferring into baccalaureate programs. The North Star STEM Alliance, extending the successes of its initial five-year partnership, implements best practices in engaging and retaining URMs studying STEM on 15 Minnesota campuses. Undergraduate research, a featured best practice in retention, will engage more than 375 students, contributing to discovery and innovation across the spectrum of STEM disciplines.

By May, 2017, the more than 3,200 URM STEM graduates influenced and supported by the North Star STEM Alliance will enter the work force or graduate school, diversifying the academy, corporations, and professional organizations. Many of the Alliance alumni remain in Minnesota, contributing to a stronger Minnesota economy and the nation?s competitiveness in the global economy.