Oakton Secures Grant to Enhance Equity and Leadership in STEM

The $500,000 National Science Foundation grant will support a three-year initiative to increase the representation and success of Black and Latinx students in STEM

Des Plaines, Ill. (Sept. 9, 2024) – Oakton College, in collaboration with Northeastern Illinois University (NIU) and Chicago State University (CSU), has secured a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant to launch a transformative three-year initiative promoting equity and leadership in STEM education.

The project’s primary goal is to create a more inclusive environment that fosters a sense of identity, belonging and academic excellence among Black and Latinx students in STEM disciplines.

“We are deeply thankful to the National Science Foundation for supporting this vital effort to promote equity in STEM at Oakton College,” said Jim Rabchuk, Ph.D., dean of STEM. “The Learning Assistant program has proven effective in closing success gaps in STEM courses and enhancing overall achievement. We are particularly excited about the transformative impact this program will have on our students, inspiring them to see themselves as future leaders in STEM."

Over the next three years, Oakton will implement a comprehensive leadership training program encouraging Black and Latinx STEM students to become learning assistants. The assistants will be embedded in at least two sections of introductory courses, where they will participate in classroom instruction, receive specialized training in pedagogy, and engage in regular planning sessions with faculty. They will also benefit from mentorship sessions with experienced learning assistants from NIU and CSU.

The initiative will combine leadership development with the innovative learning assistant model, guided by Tara Yosso's community cultural wealth framework. Research consistently shows that leadership opportunities in STEM help students build confidence, develop a sense of belonging and overcome unique challenges in academic and professional settings. By integrating learning assistants into introductory courses across all seven STEM disciplines, Oakton will provide these critical opportunities for Black and Latinx students to thrive.

Oakton faculty will participate in professional development programs designed to incorporate learning assistants and active learning strategies into their courses, supported by experienced faculty mentors. These efforts aim to train up to 60 learning assistants, develop up to 90 diverse student leaders, and increase the success rates of Black and Latinx students in STEM courses to match the overall success rates at Oakton.

This project represents a significant step toward fostering equity and leadership in STEM fields, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to excel academically and professionally. For more information about how to become a learning assistant, please email Rabchuk at jrabchuk@oakton.edu.