Two major federal grants have been awarded to Mount Mary University since August, a $4.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
Both grants were awarded to schools designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI); Mount Mary became a HSI in spring 2020 and is one of two colleges or universities in Wisconsin eligible for such grants.
“Proyecto Descubrir,” or Project Discovery, is a four-year program to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income women enrolled in STEM programs by 10 percent. This $4.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will address a gap in Hispanic and low-income women enrolled in a STEM degree program through a multi-pronged approach to remove barriers and increase retention and completion.
“STEM by Design” is a program developed through a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation awarded in June. This program will introduce strong technology elements throughout the institution and offer a human-technology interface degree program.
“These grants confirm the caliber of the University’s programing and leadership, and highlight our trajectory,” said Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Julie Landry.
Another significant gain for Mount Mary’s campus community is a third recent award, Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), a $120,000 four-year grant through the U.S. Department of Education that provides funds up to $1,000 per year to eligible student parents to cover childcare costs at an approved childcare provider. One option will be the new on-campus Wauwatosa Day Care and Learning Center located in Trinity Woods that is slated to open in late fall 2021.
These new grants bring the five-year total to $19.3 million in federal support.