UTICA, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute has received funding to help support the growth of New York’s workforce in fields of innovation. 

Carolyn Rodak, associate professor of engineering; Edmond Rusjan, associate professor of mathematics; Jiayue Shen, assistant professor of engineering; and Andrew Cotronea, SUNY Poly coordinator of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), received $750,000 from the National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program.

The award supports degree completion by students in engineering and engineering-technology programs by focusing on experiential learning and self-directed professional development to further bolster the state’s innovation workforce.

“This program will immediately produce recognizable results as it supports engineering-focused students with scholarships,” SUNY Poly Acting President Tod A. Laursen said in a news release. “But also, longer term, it will lead to the establishment of an important, replicable model for enabling student success across a number of degree programs as the institute continues to focus on the ways it can support the needs of New York state’s advanced workforce.”

The six-year initiative will initially focus on providing scholarships and programmatic support to about 20 undergraduate students studying civil engineering, mechanical engineering, civil-engineering technology, or mechanical-engineering technology. Scholarships for first-year students and transfer students will begin in the fall of 2024.

Along with financial support, the program will focus on facilitating experiential-learning opportunities through internships and hands-on undergraduate research in engineering fields. As they participate in the program, the selected scholars will also gain access to specialized programming, additional mathematical preparation, faculty mentorships, and funding to enable self-directed professional-development opportunities.

“In addition to the exciting hands-on engineering-centered research opportunities, this initiative will provide a pathway for us to better understand how to increase student success so they can obtain STEM-focused careers for which our industry partners are eager to hire,” Nathaniel Cady, interim VP of research and Empire Innovation professor of nanobioscience, said.

The program is an example of meeting students where they are and preparing them for success after graduation, Michael Carpenter, SUNY Poly interim dean of the College of Engineering, said.

Rodak and Shen will act as primary points of contact to support students within their academic departments, while Rusjan will work with incoming scholars to support mathematical preparation. Cotronea will help with much of the professional development and career programming and collaborative events with other groups on campus while an external evaluator will collaborate with the team to maximize the program’s effectiveness.

The National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program helps colleges and universities to fund scholarships for academically talented low-income students and to study and implement a program of activities that support their recruitment, retention, and graduation in STEM disciplines.