Ohio colleges get $3.5 million to boost STEM grads

Excerpt

Eleven colleges and universities in Ohio will split a $3.5 million grant to help them boost the number of minority graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The funding from the National Science Foundation creates an alliance among the schools to, within five years, double the number of minority students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields. Ohio State, Wright State, Central State, Cleveland State, Miami and Wilberforce universities; the University of Cincinnati; and Sinclair, Columbus State and Cuyahoga community colleges; and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College make up the alliance.

“Increasing participation in the STEM disciplines is crucial to our nation’s future and its economic development,” said Nathan Klingbeil, dean of the Wright State College of Engineering and Computer Science.

“Diversifying the pool of STEM graduates not only means more talent, but will also bring a variety of backgrounds and career choices that will strengthen the foundation of science/engineering/technology skills our region and nation so desperately need,” said Klingbeil, who is heading Wright State’s efforts.

Read more at DaytonDailyNews.com.