Two Grand Valley programs focused on helping underrepresented students advance in STEM disciplines and careers received national recognition.
The "GVSU - HBCU/HSI Consortium" and the "GVSU and FVSU Agreement: Pathway to Master's Degree" both received Inspiring Programs in STEM Awards from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. Grand Valley and 78 other national institutions will be recognized in the publication's September issue.
GVSU - HBCU/HSI Consortium is designed to expand the range of fields students who attend an Historically Black College or University or Hispanic Serving Institution can consider as career options. Fort Valley State University joined Grand Valley as founding members of the consortium.
B. Donta Truss, vice president for Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach, said the consortium was designed to create a collaborative partnership among Grand Valley and the country's HBCU/HSIs.
"We want to help elevate their work with these great students by leveraging our robust academic portfolio and providing opportunities, seamlessly, to ensure learners graduate with their desired credentials while maintaining their connectivity to the HBCU/HSI," Truss said.
He added that students could graduate from their original institution under a reverse transfer agreement.
Grand Valley and FVSU partnered in April to develop an agreement that leads to FVSU students earning a master's degree in a STEM discipline from GVSU in as little as five years. Paul Plotkowski, dean of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, said two students from FVSU, in Georgia, enrolled at Grand Valley in the spring/summer semester and six more students are expected this academic year.
"This collaboration truly leverages the strengths of FVSU and GVSU to provide students with unique educational and career opportunities," Plotkowski said. "While initially designed around the engineering fields, the program has already broadened to include students in other STEM disciplines."
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