Howard University has received a $4 million gift to fund a scholarship program that seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who earn a Ph.D. or combined MD-PhD in STEM-related disciplines.
The gift came from Hopper-Dean Foundation to fund the Bison STEM Scholars Program (BSSP) that was initiated in 2017. Each year, the program accepts a cohort of 30 scholars enrolled in programs within the College of Engineering and Architecture and the College of Arts and Sciences.
The latest funding would allow the university to provide 10 computer science or computer engineering students with a full-ride scholarship for four years.
It will cover 100 percent of the tuition and fees associated with attending the University and participating in the program.
“This generous gift will further enhance Howard’s strategic plan and University mission to diversify the workforce with skillfully trained students who are prepared to focus on careers in computer science and computer engineering,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick.
“We have made significant progress over the last three years through the Bison STEM Program to change the landscape of what STEM Ph.D.s look like. This significant financial contribution by the Hopper-Dean Foundation speaks volumes to the caliber of the program and the student success achieved thus far.”
A part of the gift will also support the expansion of Howard’s STEM education program.