Media Advisory

  

                             For More Information Contact:

                                 Greg Greenwood

                      Dir., Public Information & Marketing

                              (209) 954-5051

5151 Pacific Ave.                                                greggreenwood @deltacollege.edu

Stockton, CA 95207

For Immediate Release,

10/17/08

Delta College awarded $2 million Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) grant

(Stockton, CA)

The U.S. Department of Education will award San Joaquin Delta College a $2-million Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) grant over the next two years.  The primary goal of a STEM grant is to increase access to degrees in science and technology disciplines.

The grant will include a substantial amount of equipment and supply money which will update campus science, technical and engineering labs. This funding will also help defray the costs of Delta’s new planetarium equipment.

“Delta College students will benefit from new lab equipment, modernized facilities, and a new emphasis on community outreach to underrepresented groups,” says Dr. Raul Rodriguez, Superintendent/President of San Joaquin Delta College. “I’m pleased we’ll be able to serve students in a way that gets them excited about careers in these important fields of study.”

Community outreach is an important element of the grant. Delta hopes to draw more first-generation low-income and Hispanic students to STEM majors and careers. The grant will promote extensive collaboration with 4-year schools, boost STEM transfers, and assist faculty development to increase access and success for these students.

“This STEM grant was written through a collaborative effort spearheaded by project leader Gina Foppiano (Interim Supervisor, Student Activities), Cassandra Hernandez-Vives (TRIO/Title V Coordinator) and myself,” says Dr. Matt Wetstein, Director of Planning, Research and Institutional Effectiveness. “Their tireless efforts led to success in obtaining this grant.”

Project leader, Gina Foppiano, says applying for the grant was an exciting challenge. “Our work paid off in an amazing way for the college. It will be exciting to see how this grant will enrich our students by creating greater opportunities for science, technology, engineering and math at Delta College.”

Delta will receive the first million dollars of the STEM grant during the Federal fiscal year, running Oct. 1, 2008 - Sept. 30, 2009.  The balance will be awarded during the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

For more information, please contact Greg Greenwood, Dir., Public Information and Marketing at: (209) 954-5051, or, greggreenwood@deltacollege.edu.

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