The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is an NSF-funded program that provides academic support and specialized advising for students from historically underrepresented groups who wish to enter non-medical STEM professions.
The Nutmeg State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) will bring together the four regional public comprehensive universities in the State of Connecticut with the primary goal of increasing the number of STEM graduates from underrepresented minorities (African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Native Pacific Islanders) at each institution by at least 20% per year over the five years of the grant.
Each campus will use best practices from other LSAMP programs to create campus-based structures that address three main areas for the students in the program: success in gateway mathematics and science courses, financial need, and creation of a sense of belonging and self-identity as a STEM scholar. The four campuses will come together as a cohesive LSAMP alliance through shared research seminars, social events, collaborative project-based learning, and the sharing of best teaching practices through faculty development workshops.
Benefits of the LSAMP Program
Summer Bridge Program
First-Year Learning Communities
Internship Opportunities
Tutoring and Peer Mentoring
Seminar Series
Summer Bridge Program
Peer mentors and academic success centers provide sessions on success strategies—note-taking, self-advocacy, and study skills. Campus programs emphasize mathematics. Faculty offer lab tours, teach gateway course content, and introduce interdisciplinary projects. Social events foster connections among faculty, peer mentors, and LSAMP scholars.
First-year Learning Communities
We aim to aid students in their transition to college by providing guidance on university processes and support systems. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of building a strong community among students for mutual support and a positive college experience.
Internship Opportunities
Nutmeg State LSAMP will take advantage of established mentoring programs and industry partners to connect students with research and internship opportunities. We will promote the LSAMP program to Connecticut industries to increase our network in order to obtain more internship opportunities for the fellows as well as full-time employment for the graduates of the Nutmeg State LSAMP program.
Tutoring and Peer Mentoring
In the summer between their first and second years, students conduct research with faculty mentors, continuing this collaboration into their sophomore year. Additionally, junior and senior peer mentors offer guidance, creating a supportive academic community.
Seminar Series
Approximately every two weeks of the fall and spring semesters, a CSU professor or a member of local industry will give a 50-minute seminar talk. These will rotate between the four CSUs and will be virtually broadcast to the others. Each campus will follow up with a discussion of the seminar on their campus.
Financial Benefits of the Program
- Paid two-week Residential Summer
- Bridge Program ($1000.00 stipend)
- Paid two-week Residential Research
- Summer Institute ($1000.00 stipend)
Other Benefits of the Program
- Targeted instruction in math during the Summer Bridge Program
- Early research experience
- Creating a sense of belonging and self-identity in STEM
- Strengthening academic success skills and growth mindset skills
- Providing resources on opportunities for internships, networking, graduate studies, and careers in STEM
Join the Fall 2025 cohort of LSAMP scholars from across the four CSUs! Programming begins in Summer 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
Students must be:
- A first-year full-time student at one of the CSUs (Central, Eastern, Southern, or Western).
- Pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree.
- Either a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident of the USA.
- Either American Indian or Alaskan Native, African American or Black, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or Two or more races.
Applying to the Nutmeg State LSAMP Programs
Visit each institution's Admissions website. The application process may be different for each institution.
Southern Connecticut State University
Undergraduate Admissions
LSAMP Application
Email for Questions
For all general questions, please contact Sheila Carmon.