Stillman College has been awarded a $2.24 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen its science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs through a comprehensive five-year initiative aimed at improving student success and workforce readiness.
Announced in July 2026, the funding comes through the NSF’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) Implementation Projects initiative. The grant will support IMPACTS@SC-I (Improving Majors Participation and Completion Through STEM at Stillman College), a project designed to increase retention, graduation, and career preparation for STEM students.
The initiative focuses on three primary goals: boosting student retention through enhanced academic support systems, increasing graduation rates among STEM majors, and preparing graduates with the technical skills needed to enter high-demand careers immediately after college.
To accomplish these objectives, Stillman College plans to redesign upper-level STEM courses by incorporating Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), giving students more opportunities to participate in hands-on research as part of their coursework. The project will also introduce new micro-credentialing programs that allow students to demonstrate specialized technical competencies sought by employers.
In addition, the college will expand faculty-student mentoring and research collaborations while strengthening partnerships with industry leaders to create more internship opportunities and direct career pathways for students pursuing STEM degrees.
The project is led by Dr. Eric Buckles, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, who serves as the principal investigator. College officials say the initiative reflects Stillman’s ongoing commitment to expanding educational opportunities and increasing student achievement in STEM disciplines.
Stillman College President Dr. Yolanda W. Page described the grant as a significant investment in the institution’s future, noting that it directly supports the college’s ASCEND Strategic Plan, which emphasizes student success, academic excellence, and workforce development.
College leaders believe the investment will help produce more highly skilled STEM graduates while strengthening the pipeline of diverse talent entering science and technology fields.
The NSF-funded project represents one of the college’s latest investments in expanding research opportunities and ensuring students are well-prepared to meet the demands of today’s rapidly evolving STEM workforce.
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