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Chemistry Department receives S-STEM grant

By Kari VanDerVeen
August 26, 2008

The St. Olaf College Chemistry Department will launch a new program this fall that is designed to provide increased support for chemistry students and encourage more students to pursue a major in the field.

The $600,000 project, titled "Providing Support Structures for Chemistry Majors" (PSSCM), is funded through a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) Grant from the National Science Foundation. This is the third S-STEM Grant that St. Olaf has received, with the previous awards used to establish similar programs in the Biology Department and the Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Department.

"This program goes a long way toward promoting education in the STEM fields, which is a recognized national need," says Associate Professor and Chair of Chemistry Mary Walczak, who is also the interim director of evaluation and assessment. "The idea is to encourage and support students who might not choose to major in chemistry so that they can be successful."

Along with academic mentoring and advising, the PSSCM program will provide annual scholarships of up to $10,000 for 15-20 chemistry students over the five-year life of the grant. The program will also provide academic support in the form of supplemental instruction, tutoring, textbook lending, professional development activities, career counseling, workshops, field trips, internship information, and seminars. Students will also be connected to other campus programs -- such as the TRiO McNair Scholars Program and Upward Bound -- that support students from similar groups.

The PSSCM program is open to full-time St. Olaf students who intend to graduate with a major in chemistry and are interested in pursuing careers in science. To qualify for the scholarships, students must demonstrate significant financial need and show promise for success in chemistry. An application process will be established during the fall semester, with initial awards expected mid-year.

The PSSCM program draws upon St. Olaf's nationally recognized strengths in interdisciplinary and research-focused science education. St. Olaf is ranked fourth among baccalaureate liberal arts colleges nationwide in the number of graduates who went on to earn Ph.D.s in chemistry. In addition, St. Olaf consistently graduates 40-45 chemistry majors each year, which places the college among the top three undergraduate institutions for the number of chemistry majors graduated in a year.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.