LSAMP

Mountain to Sea NC LSAMP

The LSAMP Scholars program at East Carolina University provides resources to help its scholars become future leaders in science, engineering, or math. Scholars receive stipends and have access to program-designed engagements (e.g., near-peer mentoring, relationship building with faculty, small workshop-style sections for some introductory courses, networking with other LSAMP scholars), and avenues for research and/or internships

Scholars can earn up to $1500 during academic semesters and up to $4000 in the consecutive summers!

What is LSAMP?

The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is a federal program that addresses a National Science Foundation priority of increasing the number of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees being awarded (NSF). The program recognizes that the nation’s competitiveness requires the broad participation of persons from multiple cultures in the STEM workforce to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

ECU LSAMP Details

ECU is part of an LSAMP alliance called Mountain to Sea NC LSAMP, which also includes Appalachian State University, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, and Western Carolina University.

At ECU, first time Scholars generally enter the LSAMP program in the fall semester in which they are taking one or both of the supported courses (Chem 1150 or Math 2171). Participation as a first-time Scholar includes:

  • Financial award for the duration of the fellowship ($1500 for the fall semester, renewable for the spring semester)
  • LSAMP Scholar community activities with near-peer mentors and opportunities to build professional relationships with faculty
  • Enrollment in selected sections of Chem 1150 or Math 2171 or both with other LSAMP Scholars
  • Enrollment in an additional small, workshop-style section for either Chem 1150 or Math 2171 or both that reinforces material from the lecture section
  • Monthly professional development opportunities

Successful first-time Scholars may be renewed for their following spring semester, with the same benefits and basic requirements as previously described, except enrollment in Chem 1160 or Math 2172 (or both) and their workshop-style sections are required.

A limited number of prior LSAMP Scholars may also be selected to continue in the program during additional semesters as near-peer learning assistants for the workshop-style sections. Those LSAMP near-peer learning assistants will continue to receive the LSAMP stipend of $1500 per semester.

Students who have been an LSAMP Scholar in a prior semester may also apply for a summer LSAMP position in any (or all) of their following summers at ECU. Participation as a summer LSAMP Scholar includes:

  • Financial award for the summer (up to $4000)
  • Participation in an approved summer research experience or an internship for at least 30 hours per week for at least 8 weeks during June and July (requires no other employment during 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, no summer classes, and the ability to get to campus or the internship location multiple days per week)
  • Weekly professional development opportunities (on campus once per week)
  • LSAMP Scholar community activities and opportunities to build professional relationships with faculty
  • Money to pay for research materials (within budgetary constraints)
  • Travel funds to present selected research at regional or national conferences (by request, within budgetary constraints)

ECU Eligibility

All ECU undergraduate students who meet the following criteria are welcome to apply.

  • Scholars must be majoring (or intend to major in) one of these programs at ECU:
    • Applied Atmospheric Sciences
    • Biochemistry
    • Biology (BA or BS)
    • Chemistry (BA or BS)
    • Computer Science (BA or BS)
    • Engineering
    • Geographic Information Science and Technology
    • Geological Sciences
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
  • Scholars must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
  • Scholars must have a minimum of 2.5 GPA (in high school, a community college, or ECU)
  • Scholars must be enrolled at ECU full-time in the semesters in which they are funded.
  • The quality of the Scholars’ work and engagement must assist the ECU LSAMP program in achieving its grant requirements.

Applying to the ECU LSAMP Program

Applications for the ECU LSAMP Program will be available on our website based on the following timelines.

First-time Scholars:

  • Applications will be made available March 1
  • Applications are due by 5pm on April 5

Summer Scholars:

  • Applications will be made available Feb 15
  • Applications are due by 5pm on Mar 10

ECU LSAMP Faculty

Robin Coger
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Heather Vance-Chalcraft
LSAMP ECU Project Manager and Assistant Professor, Department of Biology

Jean-Luc Scemama
Associate Dean, Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences

Jason Yao
Associate Dean, College of Engineering and Technology



Participating Campuses

ECU
Appalachian State University
UNC Greensboro
UNCW
Western Carolina University

Support from NSF

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