Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $199,842 in federal funding for Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry. The funding was allocated through the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP), and will provide the college with necessary funds to develop and execute training programs for rising high school seniors. The Mathematical Modeling at Mercy College (M3C) summer program will recruit talented high school students to participate in this four-week program. Students will engage in mathematical projects that go beyond their high school curriculum using mathematical modeling to solve real-world applications.
“This much-needed funding will allow Mercy College in Westchester County to improve access to STEM fields for high school students throughout Westchester County,” said Senator Schumer. “This program will train and prepare students in science, technology, engineering and math, which is often a passport to college and good-paying jobs in our increasingly high-tech economy.”
“In order for New York to keep our competiveness in the 21st century global economy – and keep our skilled workforce in the region, we must prepare our students with the education they need for the jobs of the future,” said Senator Gillibrand. “That starts with getting more talented students – from diverse backgrounds – into the STEM pipeline at a younger age and developing programs that will introduce students to the many career opportunities that exist in STEM fields. I am pleased Mercy College will get this federal funding that will help our children start out strong so they can become the innovators of tomorrow.”
“Mercy College is thrilled to be the recipient of a Title III, MSEIP grant,” said Dr. Nagaraj Rao, Interim Dean of Mercy College. “This much needed funding will enable the College to build a pipeline for regional minority and women students to embark on STEM careers – helping to address the national need for a new generation of STEM professionals. On behalf of the Mercy College community, I am very thankful to Senator Gillibrand and Senator Schumer for their important work in supporting Mercy College’s project in particular and education institutions in general.”
The purpose of MSEIP is to effect long-range improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions and to increase the participation of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, in scientific and technological careers. MSEIP supports the implementation of expanding the scientific and technological capacity of the United States to build global competitiveness by increasing minority graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
The federal funding will be used to purchase 72 STEM instructional modules and provide training for teachers on how to operate the modules. These modules will include topics on the ecosystem, human body, chemical interactions, earth resources and the force of motion.