Chicago’s Roosevelt University (RU) has secured a $2.8 million grant from the Department of Education to expand educational opportunities for Latino and low-income students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The funding will support the university’s Navegando Hacia el Éxito (Navigating Toward Success) initiative, aimed at improving career development and well-being for Latino students.
The program will enhance support systems through mentorship programs and micro-internship opportunities, encouraging Latino students to work with university alumni and apply for internships in fields where Latino representation is lacking. These areas include clinical psychology, education, medicine, and information technology.
A key feature of the initiative is the acceleration of graduation pathways. Students will be able to apply master’s degree credits toward Roosevelt University doctoral programs, enabling them to graduate faster and at a lower cost.
This grant comes at a crucial time, as recent statistics highlight significant disparities in Latino representation across various professional fields. In the 2021-2022 medical school application cycle, only 11.6% of applicants identified as Latino, with just 6.1% of graduates that year being Latino. Consequently, Latinos comprise only 6% of the country’s physicians, despite representing nearly 19% of the U.S. population. Similarly, Latino psychologists make up a mere 5% of all psychologists in the United States.
Mike Maly, PhD, interim provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at Roosevelt University, emphasized the institution’s commitment to equity, stating, “This grant will bolster our already exceptional STEM programs and professional development services, and we’re thrilled that these funds will help us further assist RU’s exceptionally diverse student population.”
By addressing these disparities, Roosevelt University aims to create a more inclusive educational environment and pave the way for increased Latino representation in critical STEM fields.
September 27, 2024