Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—October 20, 2015. Congresswoman Robin Kelly today announced that Olive-Harvey College has been awarded a $600,000 grant to implement an academic program that will assist low-income minority students earn STEM degrees that will lead to in-demand jobs.
“I’m pleased that Olive-Harvey College is committed to encouraging people of color to enter the STEM fields,” Congresswoman Kelly said. “The annual median salary of a computer and information professional is $77,000. This is more than the average Black and Latino household makes combined. I applaud the college for working to increase the participation of Blacks and Latinos in the STEM fields.”
The $600,000 grant will fund a program that will increase student achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and increase the number of underrepresented students who earn STEM degrees of economic value.
“Olive-Harvey College seeks to use these grant funds over the next five years to continue increasing the positive impact on student learning in STEM disciplines,” said Olive-Harvey College President Angelia Millender. “This grant will help address the continued disparity in college readiness for underprivileged racial and ethnic groups, as well as promote low-income and first generation college student access into the STEM fields. We will strive to achieve this through faculty learning communities to strengthen instruction and through partnerships with local high schools to create summer college readiness programs in English support as well as college success seminars.”
The five-year grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education under the Predominantly Black Institutions Program. The PBI program helps eligible institutions expand higher education opportunities for more low- and middle-income African American students.
Source: www.robinkelly.house.gov
