Texas Tech Receives NSF Grant to Fund Low-Income Math Scholars
September 19, 2007
Future math majors could qualify for scholarship money.
The Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Texas Tech University has received
a competitive $572,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to fund scholarships
for low-income students interested in becoming math scholars.
Mathematics professor Monty Strauss said the five-year grant will fund the newly formed South Plains Mathematics Scholars Program. This program will seek to cultivate mathematics scholars and fund the education cost of about 24 students from low-income families.
The money comes from the NSF’s Scholars in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, known as S-STEM.
"The students we’re seeking don’t have to be necessarily superstars academically, but they should be good students with potential," Strauss said. "At the same time we are giving them all sorts of mentoring, we will work with their families as well to help make sure these students succeed and get a degree. As part of the program, the parents will be invited to campus several times during the course of their student’s academic career."
Strauss said the Department of Mathematics and Statistics will work the Department of Human Development and Family Studies to begin a search for qualified students and hopes to have them attend Texas Tech next fall. Campus support offices such as financial aid, disability, counseling and career advising will be available to the scholars.
The primary objectives of the program are to increase the population of students from low-income families at Texas Tech, and to disseminate information regarding methods of improving mathematics learning and student retention.
For more information on the South Plains Mathematics Scholars Program, call (806) 742-2580 ext. 245 or visit www.math.ttu.edu.
The project’s director is Jerry Dwyer of Mathematics & Statistics. Co-project directors are Monty Strauss and Brock Williams of Mathematics & Statistics and Michael O’Boyle of the Department of Human Development & Family Studies.
CONTACT: Monty Strauss, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2580 ext. 245, monty.strauss@ttu.edu.
Mathematics professor Monty Strauss said the five-year grant will fund the newly formed South Plains Mathematics Scholars Program. This program will seek to cultivate mathematics scholars and fund the education cost of about 24 students from low-income families.
The money comes from the NSF’s Scholars in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, known as S-STEM.
"The students we’re seeking don’t have to be necessarily superstars academically, but they should be good students with potential," Strauss said. "At the same time we are giving them all sorts of mentoring, we will work with their families as well to help make sure these students succeed and get a degree. As part of the program, the parents will be invited to campus several times during the course of their student’s academic career."
Strauss said the Department of Mathematics and Statistics will work the Department of Human Development and Family Studies to begin a search for qualified students and hopes to have them attend Texas Tech next fall. Campus support offices such as financial aid, disability, counseling and career advising will be available to the scholars.
The primary objectives of the program are to increase the population of students from low-income families at Texas Tech, and to disseminate information regarding methods of improving mathematics learning and student retention.
For more information on the South Plains Mathematics Scholars Program, call (806) 742-2580 ext. 245 or visit www.math.ttu.edu.
The project’s director is Jerry Dwyer of Mathematics & Statistics. Co-project directors are Monty Strauss and Brock Williams of Mathematics & Statistics and Michael O’Boyle of the Department of Human Development & Family Studies.
CONTACT: Monty Strauss, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2580 ext. 245, monty.strauss@ttu.edu.