About Pacific Northwest LSAMP
In the fall of 2009, the National Science Foundation awarded the LSAMP grant to five institutions in the Pacific Northwest region, with the University of Washington (UW) as the lead institution under The Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D).
Purpose
LSAMP was created to support underrepresented minority (URM) students by:
- Integrating academic and social support to build community
- Engaging URM students in undergraduate research
- Increasing entry into advanced science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degree programs and professional careers
Historically underrepresented populations include people who are Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a/x, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders.
Program growth
The third funding cycle began March 15, 2019 continues to build upon its history of success and achievement of doubling the number of URMs graduating with STEM degrees in the first five years and increasing the number of URM STEM degrees by over 10% per year during the last five years. Across the Alliance, growth in the number of STEM degrees granted to URM students outpaced growth in the number of STEM degrees overall.
Goals
1. Increase the number of highly competitive URM bachelor’s recipients in STEM, including those who transferred from a 2-year institution, by 50% over the next five years.
2. Increase the number of URM students who pursue graduate studies in STEM by 5-10% a year.
3. Address the national need for production and dissemination of new scholarly research on broadening participation of URMs in STEM disciplines and workforce.
The LSAMP approach
The LSAMP program takes a comprehensive approach to student development and retention. Particular emphasis is placed on transforming undergraduate STEM education through innovative, evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies, and relevant educational experiences in support of racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines.
The LSAMP program also supports knowledge generation, knowledge utilization, program impact and dissemination type activities. The program seeks new learning and immediate diffusion of scholarly research into the field.
About Louis Stokes
Louis Stokes played a pivotal role in the quest for civil rights, equality and social and economic justice throughout his tenure in the United States Congress. Mr. Stokes was educated in the Cleveland Public Schools, served in the United States Army for three years, and then returned to Cleveland to attend Western Reserve University. He earned his Doctor of Laws Degree from Cleveland Marshall Law School in 1953.
Mr. Stokes practiced Law for 14 years and was one of the founders of Stokes, Character, Terry, Perry, Whitehead, Young and Davidson law firm. Mr. Stokes participated in three cases in the United States Supreme Court, including arguing the landmark “stop and frisk” case of Terry v. Ohio. In 1968, Mr. Stokes became the first African American member of Congress from the State of Ohio. He served fifteen consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representative, ranking 11th overall in House seniority.
Mr. Stokes became the first African American in the history of the U.S. Congress to retire having completed 30 years in office.
Through the years, Mr. Stokes has received numerous awards and honors that recognize his national leadership and strong commitment to public service. A number of landmarks around the city of Cleveland now bear his name. He is the recipient of 26 honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities and on July 8, 2003 was honored by Congress with The Congressional Distinguished Service Award.
Mr. Stokes and his wife Jay are the parents of Shelley, Angela, Louis and Lori, and grandparents to Brett, Eric and Grant Hammond; Kelley and Kimberly Stokes; and Alexandra and Nicolette Thompson.
Source: msass.case.edu