SUNY Poly mentorship program will support women in STEM majors

MARCY, N.Y. — The SUNY Poly Foundation is developing a mentorship program —comprised of faculty, staff, alumni, and local female professionals — who will serve as advisors to first-year female students enrolled in the university’s STEM programs, the state university announced.

The initiative is funded by a $10,000 grant from the Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and will focus on students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to provide support and improve retention.

“A STEM education can have a transformative effect,” SUNY Poly President Winston Soboyejo said in a university news release. “This program will not only provide great support to first-year female students enrolled in our STEM programs, but [also] increase the likelihood of their success, which benefits us all.”

Students impacted by this new initiative are enrolled in SUNY Poly’s network and computer security, mechanical engineering and engineering technology, interactive media and game design, electrical engineering and electrical-engineering technology, computer science, information science, computer-engineering technology, civil engineering and engineering technology, applied math, and biology programs.

“SUNY Poly is incredibly grateful for the support of the Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties,” Andrea LaGatta, VP of institutional advancement at the state university, said. “This grant allows us to transform lives by helping our students on their path to achieving their dreams.”

The funding from the Women’s Fund will support professional-development training opportunities for faculty, staff, and external mentors; employ a part-time coordinator to oversee the program including recruiting mentors, organizing programs, collaborating with campus partners, program assessment, and student follow-up; provide networking opportunities for mentors and mentees; and purchase program supplies, materials, and equipment.

“We are excited to work with SUNY Poly to provide mentoring support for local STEM students,” Michele Sheridan, the Women’s Fund Grant Committee co-chairperson. said. “We believe that providing financial assistance to this program will help women succeed in these important areas of study and that they will ultimately make a positive impact in our communities.”

SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through its colleges of arts and sciences, business, engineering, and health sciences.