| For students, fulfilling competing obligations has negative personal and scholastic consequences. Financial support will enable Houston LSAMP Scholars to regard their academic programs as full-time commitments. The Houston LSAMP plans to use most of the NSF funds, matched by institutional funds on a 1 to 1 basis, to provide student financial support. Additionally, we will work diligently to develop sources of support among industrial partners and local foundations. There will be three chronologically-defined groups of students who will receive financial support during at least part of the five year period of the award: those "in the system" at start-up; those who are recruited and finish degrees during the five-year award period; and those who were recruited during the award period, but whose college careers continue beyond the end of the award period.
Eligible students in all three groups will receive financial support from the financial "pot" of NSF funds and institutional resources, with the proportion of the stipend funds coming from institutional commitments (supplemented by corporate contributions), becoming larger over time. Additionally, students recruited during the fifth year of the award period and after will be supported entirely by the academic institutions primarily with monies raised through development initiatives. Decisions about level of support and selection for support will be made by the Houston LSAMP selection committee. This committee will evaluate the needs of both incoming freshmen and upperclassmen in jeopardy of not finishing their degrees due to inadequate financial resources. For example, if a promising student is identified who is not taking a full load due to the need to work, and expects to delay graduation, that student would be eligible to apply for LSAMP Scholar status. If selected, the student would be expected to: a) take a full load to graduate on time; b) participate in LSAMP activities; c) maintain eligibility for continued financial aid. Eligibility would be based on the selection criteria listed in a later section. Financial support will be provided to Houston LSAMP students through the following means:
Initially, stipends will be awarded to Houston LSAMP Scholars based on academic credentials and financial need. To maintain eligibility for the stipends, LSAMP Scholars will be expected to participate actively in the program, including regularly attending the enrichment workshops and assisting in recruitment and mentoring of LSAMP Scholars; and meet academic expectations by maintaining a minimum GPA. Students will be evaluated for stipend eligibility annually.
An undergraduate research assistantship program will help Houston LSAMP Scholars appreciate the relationship between professional success and higher education and encourage them to consider graduate school. Undergraduate assistants will receive experience in teaching and research, and training in leadership and team-building skills. Undergraduate assistants' duties will include working on faculty-supervised research projects and assisting faculty members in laboratory teaching sessions
Through good faith agreements, industry partners will have the opportunity to hire Houston LSAMP Scholars to work whenever school is not in session, and depending upon the agreement, include co-op work assignments during upper division years.-
Houston LSAMP Scholars will have opportunities to work for pay during the summer months in a research laboratory at a Houston LSAMP university or a partner corporation.
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