IST faculty receive NSF funding to support socioeconomically disadvantaged students

Teresa Donnellan — Fri, 31 May 2024 17:06:27 +0000

IST faculty receive NSF funding to support socioeconomically disadvantaged students Teresa Donnellan Fri, 05/31/2024 - 13:06

In This Story

Massimiliano Albanese

Several faculty members in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology received a planning grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to work on developing effective support mechanisms for low-income students.

"Our overarching objective is to alleviate the financial burdens that often impede academic progression, ensuring that students can focus on their studies," said Max Albanese, an associate professor working on the project. Albanese is principal investigator alongside co-PIs Ozlem Uzuner, Ioulia Rytikova, Mihai Boicu, and Zhisheng Yan. Khondkar Islam is assisting as senior personnel.

Central to this initiative, which is called “Establishing a Partnership for Increasing Enrollment, Retention, and Graduation of Low-Income Information Technology Students in the National Capital Region,” is the collaboration between George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). Specifically, the research team aims to improve the already established framework that supports students transferring from NOVA into the IST department’s bachelor’s degree program.

The planning grant from the NSF acts as "seed money" for a grander vision. "This initial funding is our stepping stone towards a substantial $5 million endeavor over six years, illustrating the magnitude of impact we envision," said Albanese.

Currently, the project is in a data-collection phase, with the team identifying relevant metrics to assess students’ performance and financial needs at NOVA and George Mason. This empirical groundwork will lay the foundation for subsequent interventions, which will be tailored to the specific needs of academically promising, low-income students.

"We aim to devise novel strategies for assessing and nurturing student capabilities, recognizing that academic potential transcends traditional metrics like GPA," said Albanese.

The team’s multifaceted approach, which transcends monetary aid to consider academic mentorship and evidence-based interventions, heralds a new chapter in the pursuit of equitable access to higher education. Albanese hopes the project not only reinforces George Mason’s position as a hub of innovative research and inclusive excellence but also effects positive change for students grappling with socioeconomic barriers to academic success.

Topics

Information Sciences and Technology Department

information sciences and technology

NSF Grant

Inclusion

inclusive excellence

NoVa Community College

Persistence and perseverance pays off for IT graduate

Tama Moni — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 15:44:36 +0000

Persistence and perseverance pays off for IT graduate Tama Moni Tue, 04/19/2022 - 11:44

Benhur Hadgu describes his college journey as an uphill battle that taught him never to give up. He says, “It's easy to start anything but hard to finish.” Like many Mason students, he started his journey at Northern Virginia Community College so he could develop the habits and learn material that would prepare him for higher education.

“When I entered NOVA, I was determined to be successful and reach my goals. I worked hard to build good habits and routines to study and learn,” he says. “I took advantage of NOVA's opportunities, and I started to develop my mindset. I took Math and English courses from the beginning and worked hard to overcome my challenges. I always wanted to be in technology.”

After completing his Associate of Science degree, he found he still was not quite ready for a four-year college. He decided to get experience in IT and enrolled in Year Up (a program within the Cisco Networking Academy) which provided hands-on training and prepared him for an internship at Blue Cross Blue Shield.

When Hadgu enrolled full-time at Mason he was working part-time, but when he registered, he found out that some credits did not transfer from NOVA and had to retake core prerequisites and core programming courses. “I struggled the first semester due to the intense curriculum requirements, but I persisted, adapted, and did well in my courses after adjusting to Mason’s higher standards and more serious environment.” He says, “I made sure I was always around positive associations with people that stretch me and bring out the best in me.”

It took Hadgu four and a half years to complete his bachelor’s degree from George Mason University, but he says it was all worth it. “Mason is a good school that gives students a lot of opportunities. I now understand why it's essential to go to a good school. My life has improved. I have learned, grown, and become a better human being due to being challenged, disciplined, and pushed academically.”

Hadgu heartily recommends Mason, especially the school's College of Engineering and Computing. He graduated with a 3.0 GPA with a bachelor's degree in information technology, concentrating in information security, and a minor in business with a 3.5 GPA.

Topics

information technology

NoVa Community College

internships