Quinnipiac University has received a $306,244 grant from the state Office of Higher Education to launch a Connecticut Collegiate Awareness and Preparation (ConnCAP) program aimed at engaging 100 under-resourced high school students from the Ansonia, Hamden and Meriden school districts in community-based science experiences.
The grant is renewable annually for three years and includes a university match of 25 percent.
Throughout the three-year program, Quinnipiac University Advancing Diversity in Science (QUADS) project members will partner with the high schools, engaging with the students and their respective communities and helping the students apply science knowledge and skills to understand community-based phenomenon or to solve a community problem.
The project work will be supported through intensive mentorships with secondary science teachers and Quinnipiac faculty and students during the academic year as well as a weeklong on-campus summer experience.
“This is an awesome and timely opportunity for Quinnipiac to serve our community,” said Cindy Kern, associate teaching professor in the School of Education at Quinnipiac. “QUADS facilitators use equity-based principles to design meaningful ways for students to both enhance and contextualize their college readiness and learn science while moving toward social justice.”
Kern and Anna G. Brady, coordinator of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) program at Quinnipiac, will oversee the initiative.
“QUADS is an incredible opportunity for high school students to engage with their teachers and experience place-based science as an approach to authentically serve communities in and around their schools,” Brady said. “QUADS is also a great opportunity for Quinnipiac students and faculty to serve as mentors and provide support and develop relationships with our QUADS participants.”
