Posted on April 11, 2024 by Sean M. Wood
Students attend laboratory tour of the Biomedical Engineering ReMeDi Lab
Professors at the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design have successfully secured nearly $2.5 million in grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to bolster support for engineering students facing financial obstacles that may jeopardize their academic pursuits.
The grant specifically targets high-achieving, low-income undergraduate students within the fields of biomedical engineering and chemical engineering, aiming to mitigate the risk of students abandoning their studies due to financial constraints. Principal investigator Professor Nehal Abu-Lail said while scholarships may be available to students, these are often extremely competitive and can only support a limited number of students. We definitely need more.
In collaboration with co-principal investigators, including Klesse Interim Dean Eric Brey, Assistant Professor Karina Vielma, and Professor Mehdi Shadaram, the team outlined a more holistic approach to the selection process. Beyond academic criteria such as grade-point average (GPA), the team will assess unmet financial need, recommendation letters, essays, and supplementary skills and experiences.
"We want to talk to them and find out what we can do to help them be successful. Theoretically, we should be able to identify a student, stick with the student, and fund them every year as long as they are eligible for the program."
“But we will do more than that,” she said. “We want to talk to them and find out what we can do to help them be successful. Theoretically, we should be able to identify a student, stick with the student, and fund them every year as long as they are eligible for the program.”
Over the six-year duration of the grant, the initiative aims to assist 36 students by addressing their unmet financial needs. By alleviating financial burdens, students can devote more energy to their studies, ultimately enhancing their academic performance and career prospects.
“When these students can cover the cost of attendance then you enable them to focus on their studies and they are then capable of bringing their best to this program,” Abu-Lail said. “But when a student is financially disadvantaged, even with everything UTSA gives them —financial aid, scholarships, FAFSA loans — and they still cannot afford but to work 40 hours outside of school, something has to give.”
In addition to financial aid, students will participate in culturally-responsive and culturally relevant evidence-based projects and assignments established within the core curriculum. These pedagogies are expected to promote continued student growth and establish a culture of support that enhances academic persistence, promotes personal and professional success, and fosters positive engineering identities.
This grant reflects the commitment of Klesse College to foster growth opportunities and support for underrepresented students in pursuing their academic and professional aspirations. Through targeted initiatives like this, the college aims to create a comfortable and supportive learning environment for all students.
— Sean M. Wood
