CUNY Transfer to STEM Student Success Program
CUNY
CUNY's Transfer to STEM Student Success program provides transfer students with mentored research experiences, professional development and opportunities to prepare for STEM careers and graduate study.
CUNY has received $1.5 million from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to extend its Transfer to STEM Student Success program for another three years. The initiative supports students moving from CUNY community colleges into STEM bachelor's degree programs at City College, Hunter College, Lehman College and Queens College. The renewed funding is expected to provide research and professional development opportunities to 84 transfer students over the grant period. Participants who complete a full year receive $7,000 and take part in workshops, faculty-mentored summer research and a university-wide symposium. The program, launched in 2023, has already provided year-long experiences and laboratory research opportunities to more than 100 students.
CUNY Receives $1.5 Million Grant Renewal from the Sloan Foundation to Provide Paid, Mentored Research Experiences for Baccalaureate Transfer Students in STEM
Three-Year Extension of ‘Transfer to STEM Student Success’ Program Will Benefit 84 Students Who are Transferring to CUNY Four-Year Colleges from Community Colleges in the System
CUNY has received $1.5 million in new funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to extend the CUNY Transfer to STEM Student Success (TS3) program for an additional three years. Launched by CUNY’s Office of Academic Affairs through the Office of Research in 2023, the program supports students who transfer from CUNY community colleges to a STEM baccalaureate degree program at The City College of New York, Hunter College, Lehman College or Queens College.
TS3 provides new transfer students at four-year colleges with valuable basic and applied research skills and prepares them to pursue graduate degrees and careers in STEM. Students who participate for a full year in the program receive a $7,000 stipend.
“The importance of the TS3 program in helping transfer students acclimate and prepare for the rigorous demands of CUNY’s four-year colleges cannot be overstated. That first year is critical in ensuring that students remain engaged and committed to completing a STEM baccalaureate degree,” said Rosemarie Wesson, CUNY associate vice chancellor and University vice provost for research. “The CUNY Office of Research is thrilled to partner with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, whose longstanding commitment to transfer student success and generous support make programs like TS3 possible.”
“After a successful first three years of Sloan investment, we are excited to continue supporting CUNY transfer students in the STEM disciplines,” said Lorelle Espinosa, director of the Sloan Foundation’s Higher Education Program. “Research experiences and strong mentoring are key to student success and we look forward to what the next cohorts of the TS3 program accomplish.”
The first three years of the TS3 program funded year-long experiences and lab-based research for over 100 students. The renewed funding will extend these opportunities to seven transfer students at each college, for a total of 84 students over the life of the grant.
Graduate Peer Mentors
The program also funds professional development opportunities for CUNY graduate students to mentor the undergraduate participants. Diana Samaroo, professor of chemistry at New York City College of Technology, will train them to serve as advanced peer mentors. Luke Waltzer, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at the CUNY Graduate Center, will work with them to design effective workshops that prepare students for laboratory research, effective communication and career readiness.
During the academic year, students will attend workshops designed by the Graduate Fellows, including “How to Read a Scientific Research Paper,” “Public Speaking in Science,” “Data Visualization” and “Overcoming Imposter Syndrome.” As the year proceeds, the Graduate Fellows will pair the undergraduate students with experienced faculty members who will mentor the students through research projects during the summer.
The TS3 undergraduates will spend the summer participating in intensive research experiences with faculty mentors in their labs. The program concludes with a symposium in which the students present their research on posters to a university-wide audience, with feedback offered by faculty and graduate students.
Building on Lessons
The TS3 program continues the Office of Research’s 14-year relationship with the Sloan Foundation. The Foundation previously sponsored the Junior Faculty Research Award in Science and Engineering (JFRASE) and the CUNY Summer Undergraduate Research Program (CSURP).
“We are building on the lessons learned from the first iteration of TS3, which itself builds on the legacy of earlier programs such as CSURP,” said Effie MacLachlan, the principal investigator on the award and University director of grants & research programs in the Office of Research. “This program plays an especially critical role at this time as it focuses on the success of students who have transferred from CUNY community colleges to our four-year colleges.”
Applications for the 2026-2027 TS3 Cohort are open with rolling acceptances until all positions are filled. Learn more about the program here and apply here.
Source: City University of New York
