By Eli Hughes–
The James Graham Brown Foundation has given $2.4 million to the University of Louisville to help support students in difficult STEM+H courses. This money will go towards in-class peer support in five math, biology and chemistry classes with high failure and dropout rates.
“U of L is committed to recruiting, retaining and launching graduates prepared to serve the commonwealth’s STEM+H workforce needs in information systems, engineering, nursing, medicine and other fields,” said U of L President Neeli Bendapudi.
“Many thanks to the James Graham Brown Foundation for this funding to help the university continue to serve the community’s needs.”
In-class peer support will consist of Structured Learning Assistants, advanced students who will attend the class and work with the professors to develop learning activities that will engage students. The program will be led by REACH and they are currently looking to fill approximately 59 positions for the Spring 2022 semester.
“If we can infuse student leaders in these classes to a ratio of about 1 for every 25 students who need assistance, we have an opportunity to move the needle in ways that we haven’t been able to do previously,” REACH director Geoff Bailey said. “This enables us to take it to a whole other level just because of the sheer numbers.”
Structured Learning Assistants start at $10 an hour with a $2500 scholarship for every semester employed in the position and interested students can apply on REACH’s website.
