NASA has awarded 14 planning grants to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) through its Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), part of the agency’s Office of STEM Engagement. The grants, totaling more than $587,000, are part of a phased partnership effort with the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The grants will encourage the development of coalitions aimed at broadening participation in engineering, in alignment with the goals of the NSF Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) initiative.

Continuing to invest in MSIs is an ongoing priority for MUREP. Through these planning grant awards, the lead MSIs have developed coalitions with a variety of partners, including other MSIs, non-MSIs, industry, non-profit organizations and other non-governmental organizations.

The recipient institutions are:

California State University, Northridge
Growing Engineering Engagement in Underserved and Underrepresented Populations

California State University, San Bernardino
Partnerships for Recruitment, Retention, Research and Mentoring for Engineering

Florida A&M University
NASA MUREP-NSF INCLUDES Fueling Opportunities for Successful Engineering Retention of Non-Traditional STEM (FOSTER-NTS) Majors into PhD Programs at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Navajo Technical College
NASA–Navajo Nation Ne-tdale Ak’is: Expanding Partnerships

Navajo Technical College
Integration of Earth and Space Science initiatives in Engineering Curriculum and community engagement at Navajo Technical University

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces
Coalition for Growing a Diverse Workforce to Develop and Commercialize the Next Generation of Space-Based Technologies

North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro
iCASE: Inclusive Consortium of Autonomous Systems Engineers

Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
STEM^3 in South-East Louisiana

Texas A&M University, Kingsville
Parallel Pathways of Excellence to Engage Minority Students in Aerospace Engineering

University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff
Developing a Community of Space Scientists

University of Hawaii, Honolulu
Planning and Development for a Sustainable STEM-Outreach Program: Hawai‘i’s Aspiring Engineers Academy

University of Massachusetts, Boston
Partners Aligned To Heighten broad participation in STEM (PATHS)

University of Texas, El Paso
Coalition for Inspiration, Education and Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Hispanic Serving Institutions (ECE@HSI)

University of Texas, San Antonio
City-based Integrated Engineering Training Alliance to Engage, Educate and Empower the Next Generation STEM Workforce

About MUREP

NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project supports the training and development of students and faculty at MSIs in STEM fields by providing opportunities for research and education that inspires and prepares minority students for STEM careers.

An integral part of this mission, NASA MUREP INCLUDES was established to strengthen and develop the research capacity and infrastructure of minority-serving institutions in areas of strategic importance and value to NASA’s mission and national priorities.

For more information about MUREP, visit https://www.nasa.gov/stem/murep/.