GCC awarded National Science Foundation grant

Genesee Community College was awarded a National Science Foundation Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics Scholarship grant (NSF-CSEMS). This award provides $268,000 for a four-year "Technology Opportunity Pathway" (TOP) program.

TOP will provide college scholarships and academic financial assistance to Genesee students enrolled full time and seeking degrees in Genesee's three computer science programs, engineering, drafting, multimedia or mathematics programs. The TOP grant is the largest award Genesee Community College has received from the National Science Foundation, and the first to be dedicated toward educational scholarships.

In addition to financial aid to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and educational supplies and materials, the proposal to NSF includes an important mentoring and advising component for TOP students. Among the different support opportunities will be job shadowing, visits to four-year colleges and universities and attending various Genesee workshops. "TOP provides more than just financial assistance," Kenneth Mead said. Mead is the Mathematics and Computer Information systems (CIS) professor at the college and was the principal investigator for the proposal. "An integral part of the program will be faculty and student services staff serving as mentors to the TOP scholars throughout their experience here at Genesee. We seek to increase the participation of women and minorities in the TOP programs at the college, and we will require participation in activities and workshops specifically designed to improve each individual's chance of success in the program. Another part of our strategy involves developing a group of peer mentors from the second year TOP scholars to encourage the freshman participants in the program."

Students interested in applying for a TOP Scholarship, which is officially known as the NSF Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics Scholarship (NSF CSEMS), can contact the Admissions office at Genesee Community College by calling 585-345-6800 or toll free 1-866-CALL-GCC. Eligibility criteria include: (1) being a registered full-time Genesee student in a declared degree in one of the following associate degree programs: Mathematics, Engineering, Drafting, Computer Information Systems, Computer Systems and Network Technologies, Information Technology and Multimedia; (2) a demonstration of academic potential or ability; and (3) financial need as defined by federal financial aid guidelines.

Genesee Community College's Open House scheduled for Thursday, November 11, starting at 8 a.m., offers an opportunity to learn about the TOP Scholarship, meet faculty and obtain an application for the spring or fall 2005 semester.

Information is also available at the College's website: www.genesee.edu.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the U.S. Government, established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950.