Virginia State University News September 28, 2011 NSF grant supports STEM research The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Virginia State University researchers $342,795 to support a project that studies the effectiveness of interventions on the mathematics performance of minority middle and high school students. Ultimately, the project "Improving Minority Student Mathematics Performance and Persistence in STEM Majors Through Cognitive Training," aims to increase participation of minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This award is a continuation of a three-year project that, to date, has received $2.5 million in funding through NSF. Under the direction of Drs. Oliver W. Hill, Jr.; Milton O. Faison; and Zewelanji Serpell, the project constitutes a partnership between VSU researchers and local school districts. Using an innovative approach, researchers study students' cognitive abilities when being taught STEM subject matter. Using these findings, researchers can create pedagogical modules to develop students' capabilities to perform successfully in the targeted STEM areas. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.