FORT VALLEY, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) is proud to announce that Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia has received a grant award totaling $393,684.00 from the National Science Foundation. The award is administered by the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects. The award will help fund the institution’s Targeted Infusion Project to develop an Applied Statistics minor program within the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity extended to Fort Valley State University to provide high quality learning experiences to students,” said Congressman Bishop. “Strengthening the statistics program at FVSU, a historically African-American university, will better equip students to pursue careers in STEM fields, positioning them to become the brightest leaders of tomorrow.”
“FVSU currently administers more than $46 million in sponsored funding and so far this year, funding is up 8% over last year,” said Lisa Wilson, Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs at FVSU. “This NSF Targeted Infusion award is another indication that FVSU is excelling in its mission as a research university, attracting more public and private external funding and creating opportunities that are changing lives.”
“I am excited about this grant. The proposed minor program in Applied Statistics will change overall student attitude about job markets and will actually broaden job opportunities for students graduating from FVSU with a minor in Applied Statistics,” said Dr. Dawit Aberra, Interim Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at FVSU. “It will also increase the number of African Americans represented in the data sciences, and research opportunities that require application of Statistics. The program will be available for all FVSU students enrolled in a STEM discipline and is in line with the university’s mission to increase enrollment and improve academic programs.”
By offering a minor in Applied Statistics, the initiative aims to develop students’ statistical knowledge and thinking by developing five new courses in addition to the existing courses. The new curriculum will be further enhanced by peer-to-peer advising, faculty mentorships, and summer research opportunities.
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