Bipartisan Bill to Support Minority STEM Inclusion Introduced with Coalition Support

This week, Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and Rep. Mike Turner (OH-10) introduced the Supporting Minority STEM Student to Career Act to improve the delivery of targeted resources to underrepresented students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields.  The bill updates the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program by allowing institutions to provide scholarships to students from underrepresented populations pursuing STEM degrees.  The bill also invests in institutions’ ability to provide minority students studying STEM with comprehensive wrap-around services, such as peer mentoring, community building activities, tutoring and study groups, supplemental instruction, internships, research experiences, and career and financial counseling.

“We are proud to support this bill, which would expand the STEM workforce by promoting the success of underrepresented minorities, women, and other high-need populations in STEM career pathways,” said James Brown, Executive Director of the STEM Education Coalition.  “In the hyper-competitive global economy, our nation must provide every student with an interest in the critical STEM fields – from every background – with a chance to succeed by providing them with the targeted supports they need.   Reams of evidence have demonstrated that aligned work study, undergraduate research opportunities, mentorship and other forms of targeted academic assistance help high-need students stay in school, complete their degrees, and succeed in STEM careers.  This bill would empower the existing Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program to deliver these kinds of supports to the students that will most benefit from them.  Our collective prosperity depends on their success.” 

Click here for the full bill text.