CSU-LSAMP Overview
Initiated in 1994, with support from the National Science Foundation, the California State University Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (CSU-LSAMP) program is a comprehensive, statewide program dedicated to broadening participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
At the time the Alliance was established, it included 16 campuses of the California State University, each associated with at least one California Community College (CCC) partner. During the current (Phase III) project period, 19 CSU campuses comprise the Alliance, and this number will grow to 22 in fall 2008 when the fourth project period (“Senior Level”) will begin. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, will join the Alliance at this time. The only CSU that will not be included is the California Maritime Academy, a unique and specialized campus of the CSU that offers only a limited number of bachelor’s degrees.
In Phase I (1994-1998) and Phase II (1998-2003), San Francisco State University served as the Alliance's lead institution. California State University, Sacramento, is serving as lead institution for the Phase III project period (2003-2008) and will continue in this role through the fourth phase.
The commitment of the CSU to the goals of the project is evidenced not only by the past support and pledges of continued support from participating campuses but also by support from the system wide Chancellor’s Office. This office has already made a leveraged investment in the project of $12 million real dollars of general fund support, and it will invest an additional $4 million real dollars to sustain CSU-LSAMP efforts for the five-year “Senior Level” period and beyond.
In the first year of Phase III, CSU-LSAMP engaged 3,395 URM-STEM students in activities that sustained or further improved individual student retention and progression rates achieved during Phase I and Phase II. Since many of the strategies initiated in Phase I and Phase II for lower division students had already been institutionalized, CSU-LSAMP introduced activities in Phase III that are designed to enhance graduate school preparedness of upper division students with the goal of improving aggregate student progression to STEM graduate programs. To broaden the participation of LSAMP students in graduate study, CSU-LSAMP also established Bridge to the Doctorate supplemental activities at San Francisco State University and California State University Los Angeles, two of the Alliance's member institutions.
In the fourth phase, CSU-LSAMP will focus on persistence and progression to graduate study, institutionalization and dissemination of best practices, interventions for community college transfer students, and expanding opportunities for student engagement in international activities. In addition, as a Senior Level LSAMP, CSU-LSAMP will take full advantage of eligibility to submit proposals for LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate activities and other projects (e.g., a Bridge to Teaching project) as these opportunities arise.
Benefits
- Academic Advising
- Orientation Courses
- Math Workshops
- Annual visits to PhD granting institutions and research centers
- Undergraduate Research Experience
- Graduate School Preparation Workshops
NSF Synopsis of the Program (through Phase III)
"This program is aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of students successfully completing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate degree programs, and increasing the number of students interested in, academically qualified for and matriculated into programs of graduate study. LSAMP supports sustained and comprehensive approaches that facilitate achievement of the long-term goal of increasing the number of students who earn doctorates in STEM fields, particularly those from populations underrepresented in STEM fields. The program goals are accomplished through the formation of alliances. Phase I awards place emphasis on aggregate baccalaureate production. Phase II awards augment the Phase I emphasis with attention to individual student retention and progression to baccalaureate degrees. Phase III awards augment the Phase I and Phase II with attention to aggregate student progression to graduate school entry."
Coordination
LSAMP at Cal Poly is being coordinated by the Multicultural Engineering Program ( MEP ) and Student Academic Services ( SAS ). You can find additional information about these two programs at their respective websites.
Supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. HRD-0802628 and the CSU Chancellor's Office. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.