Kansas State University’s College of Architecture, Planning & Design (APDesign) has been honored with the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine for its efforts in supporting underrepresented students pursuing STEM fields.
This award recognizes colleges and universities that promote and assist students from underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. APDesign will be highlighted alongside 82 other recipients in the September 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine, a leading publication in diversity and inclusion in higher education.
Award winners were chosen by Insight Into Diversity for their efforts to inspire and encourage young people to pursue STEM careers through mentoring, teaching, research, and effective programs and initiatives.
APDesign was recognized for its innovative Society We Serve initiative, which has significantly expanded outreach to underserved K-12 students. This initiative has doubled the college’s engagement with these students and offers mentoring, enrichment, and scholarship support to current students. Key achievements from the Society We Serve initiative include:
• Summer bridge experiences: APDesign now participates in two summer bridge programs, MAPS and Kompass. MAPS is a four-week program that acquaints students with university resources and includes a class that counts toward their degree. Kompass is a one-week program focused on study skills, time management, and building connections within APDesign and K-State. Both programs include mentoring throughout the year and a scholarship.
• Retention scholarships: The initiative has awarded more than $240,000 in retention scholarships to underserved students, achieving a retention rate of more than 93% for scholarship recipients. Scholarship amounts typically range from $150 to $1,000, covering just-in-time needs such as field trip expenses and technology purchases. All low-income students in the college may apply for these awards.
• Mentoring and enrichment: MAPS and Kompass students are matched with a peer mentor before starting their programs, and this support continues throughout their first year. This mentorship supplements the peer-educator support provided to all incoming design undergraduates in the college.
• Expanded outreach activities: Through the initiative, the college has expanded its outreach activities to raise awareness of relevant professions among school-aged children and youth. APDesign now collaborates with more than seven community partners annually. APDesign has also expanded financial access to its Manhattan campus summer camp and offers dedicated on-site camp experiences in the Kansas City Metro area through Johnson County Community College and the National Organization of Minority Architects KC Chapter.
