Encouraging Careers in the Mathematical Sciences
Encouraging Careers in the Mathematical Sciences (ECMS) is a new program open to St. Olaf students who intend to graduate with a major in mathematics and are interested in pursuing careers in the mathematical sciences. The goal is to increase the number of students who graduate from St. Olaf who are prepared to work in a 21st century, quantitatively intensive world.
A special emphasis will be placed on scholarship support for 12 to 15 students
who are from traditionally underrepresented groups or who demonstrate the greatest
financial need. The program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is
designed to encourage the study of mathematics by first-generation and low-income
students. This is a key element of current NSF initiatives
to increase study in the
fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) program was established by the National Science Foundation in accordance with the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-277) as modified by P.L. 106-313 and P.L.108-447 in 2004. The act reflects the national need to increase substantially the number of American scientists and engineers.
