Inver Hills Granted $200K To Build STEM Student Body

recently received a $200,000 grant designed to help bridge the gap between information technology careers and underrepresented students.

The grant—part of the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education program—will fund a pilot program involving three components:

• Surveying high school students in Burnsville and Inver Grove Heights
• Assembling focus groups with parents of high school students
• Providing workshops to high school teachers

"The Twin Cities has a unique cultural and ethnic blend, and at Inver Hills, we have a real dedication to serving underrepresented students," said Kevin Gyolai, dean of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at Inver Hills.

According to a statement from the college, 72 percent of the student body at Inver Hills can be considered "underrepresented students"—including students of color, low-income status and those who are the first in their family to attend college.

STEM programs, however, are significantly less diverse.

"What we don’t understand right now is why these students aren’t going into STEM fields, and what barriers exist in getting them here," Gyolai said.

The goals of the program include creating, adapting and deploying tools to recruit a more diverse information technology student body.

Immediate challenges include:

• Retaining and supporting those students
• Providing teacher training and curriculum revisions at secondary schools
• Leveraging industry partnerships to create new opportunities for students

"The National Science Foundation has recognized Inver Hills as a leader in the Twin Cities in addressing (the shortage of underrepresented students in STEM careers) and the pilot program builds on our strengths as an institution," Gyloai said.

Gyolai also spoke about the need for local IT professionals and how the program "lays the foundation" for addressing larger STEM workforce needs.