SUNY Oswego to use state grant to support CSTEP program for “underrepresented” students in STEM majors

OSWEGO, N.Y. — SUNY Oswego will use state grant funding to support the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), which helps “underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged” students entering STEM or professional-licensure fields.

STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The school will use an annual grant of nearly $200,000 through 2025 for activities to “bolster student success in fields that benefit from a well-prepared diverse pool of graduates.”

“The program provides mentoring, a supportive community, research experience, strong connections with professional and graduate opportunities, tutoring, help with graduate entrance exams and more,” Kristin Croyle, dean of SUNY Oswego’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said in a statement.

Financial, academic, and career support for students make it a “successful and sought-after program,” she added.

SUNY Oswego has already seen a healthy interest in the program, but opportunities are still available, according to Croyle. The school would like to get 110 students in the first CSTEP cohort under the current grant.

To qualify, students must be full-time, New York state residents (at least 12 months), either underrepresented minority or economically disadvantaged, and interested in pursuing a career in a STEM field or a licensed profession, such as accounting, teaching, or counseling.