Stillman College has received a $2.2 million NSF grant through the HBCU-UP Implementation Projects to bolster STEM retention and career readiness. Funds will support microcredentialing, faculty-student research, curricular redesign around CUREs, and industry partnerships. The effort complements Stillman’s ASCEND 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and aims to raise retention and graduation rates while expanding internship and workforce pathways. College leaders credited NSF’s partnership and highlighted Dr. Eric Buckles’ role in driving the initiative.
Stillman College Secures $2.2M NSF Grant to Boost STEM Retention and Career Pathways
Stillman College Awarded $2.2M Grant From National Science Foundation To ‘Increase Retention Of STEM Majors’
Stillman College has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation through the HBCU-UP Implementation Projects initiative to strengthen and expand its STEM programming.
President Yolanda W. Page announced the award on LinkedIn, noting that the funding will support the college’s Improving Majors Participation and Completion Through STEM at Stillman College initiative. The grant will be used to enhance microcredentialing, deepen industry and academic partnerships, expand faculty-student research collaborations, and strengthen career-readiness efforts.
What the Grant Will Fund
The project emphasizes practical and scalable improvements to student outcomes, including:
- Redesigning upper-level curricula to incorporate Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)
- Expanding research opportunities through faculty mentorship
- Growing microcredential programs that align with workforce needs
- Building industry pathways that lead to internships and employment
The investment aligns with Stillman’s ASCEND 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which centers on six pillars: student success, enrollment management, infrastructure and technology, community engagement, academic programs, and finance and resource development. According to the college website, student-success goals include increasing retention and graduation rates and enhancing campus life through advising, mentorship, and career-preparation activities.
"This award is an extension of our commitment to student success — equipping our scholars not just to complete STEM degrees, but to lead in the STEM workforce," President Page wrote on LinkedIn.
Page also acknowledged the partnership with the NSF and highlighted the leadership of Dr. Eric Buckles for advancing the initiative. The announcement was initially reported by AfroTech and shared via the college’s official channels.
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