NSF LSAMP (National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation) aims to increase the number of students (particularly those from populations underrepresented in STEM fields) who successfully complete science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate degree programs and matriculate into graduate study. NSF LSAMP goals are accomplished through the formation of alliances.
The C6 Alliance seeks to increase the success and transfer rates of Hispanic/Latinx students in STEM. The C6 colleges are located in California’s Central Coast, a primarily rural region between Northern and Southern California. The C6 project generates opportunities amongst the Alliance of community colleges partners to serve first-generation students from its rural regions with few large industries to increase student access to STEM research opportunities and internships by engaging with external stakeholders as a collaborative instead of as individual entities. Please watch this video to learn more about this NSF funded program. STEM students from Allan Hancock, Cabrillo, Cuesta, Monterey Peninsula, Moorpark, Oxnard, Santa Barbara City, and Ventura Colleges are invited to participate in all the opportunities brought to you by C6.
Project Goals and Objectives
Goal 1 Narrow the Hispanic success rate gap in STEM gateway courses. By doing so, more students will persist to the next level and eventually transfer.
- Objective 1.1 Introduce Embedded Tutors in STEM gateway courses at each college, impacting at least 64 sections per year across the alliance.
- Objective 1.2 Increase the success rate of Hispanic students in STEM gateway courses at each college by 3% each year of the grant.
Goal 2 Increase the number of Hispanic STEM students transferring to universities.
- Objective 2.1 By the end of the grant period, increase the number of Hispanic STEM transfers each year to CSUs from a baseline of 185 to 217, an increase of 32 (17%) across the alliance.
Goal 3 Hold a Fall Research Symposia to celebrate CC student research and project experiences.
- Objective 3.1 Sixteen students will present research/internships/independent studies projects at each symposium.
- Objective 3.2 Place 12 students into internship/research opportunities per year across the alliance.
Goal 4 Increase student awareness of their academic path and their sense of belonging in STEM.
- Objective 4.1 Hold six alliance-wide virtual student success workshops per year.
- Objective 4.2 Connect at least 80 students per year across the alliance to industry and alumni mentors.
- Objective 4.3 Hold three professional development trainings on culturally responsive education per year.
Additionally, the C6 Alliance’s industry partnerships increases industry awareness of underrepresented community college student populations’ diverse and untapped potential.
C6 is funded by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Bridge to the Baccalaureate Program (NSF LSAMP/B2B), No. 2110112.