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Contact: Jon Boughtin
202-225-4611
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Owens Announces Federal Funds for Local Universities
Washington,
Aug 29 -
Congressman Bill Owens announced funding today for two St. Lawrence County universities through the Federal TRIO Program at the U.S. Department of Education. Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University will receive grants under the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program. For the 2012-2013 school year, Clarkson will receive $220,000 and St. Lawrence will receive $226,795.
“Federal programs like TRIO provide significant educational opportunities for New York students,” said Owens. “During tough economic times, responsible investment in the region’s academic institutions is critical to training high-skilled workers for quality jobs.”
Both schools will use the funds to prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds for post-baccalaureate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Clarkson and SLU work to promote academic development and increase the number of students completing post-baccalaureate studies that lead to more STEM professionals in the area.
Earlier this year, Owens worked closely with St. Lawrence University to help ensure the U.S. Department of Education maintained McNair Achievement Program funding for area schools in the face of budget constraints and the Department’s reallocation of TRIO funding.
“St. Lawrence is pleased to begin the new academic year with this news. It is a vote of confidence from the U.S. Department of Education given the new priority that McNair programs promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. St. Lawrence is prepared to continue to offer a balance between a strong liberal arts educational preparation and rigorous and relevant STEM opportunities for our eligible students. Overall, the McNair Program is an essential aspect of our national imperative to prepare low-income, first-generation college students, and students from groups underrepresented in graduate education for doctoral study. St. Lawrence University is proud to be a part of this important initiative,” said Marsha A. Sawyer, Director of the CSTEP & McNair Scholars Program at St. Lawrence University.
The McNair Achievement Program supports institutions of higher learning in preparing candidates for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. Schools work closely with program participants as they complete their undergraduate requirements and track their progress as they complete advanced coursework, with the goal of increasing doctoral degrees in underrepresented areas of the country.
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