LSAMP IINSPIRE

The Iowa Illinois Nebraska STEM Partnership for Innovation in Research and Education (IINSPIRE) is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is named after former U.S. Representative Louis Stokes who served as a leading figure in the United States Congress.

LSAMP-IINSPIRE is a National Science Foundation (NSF) alliance among 16 two-year and four-year colleges and universities working together to attract students to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM).

The IINSPIRE Alliance goal is to address the need to remove barriers impeding student progress and success in STEM fields.

For more information about the IINSPIRE Alliance and its activities, you can check out the IINSPIRE website.

The LSAMP-IINSPIRE mission is to support the nation’s STEM workforce, broaden undergraduate participation in research, and create a sense of community and support for students pursuing a career in STEM.

  • Inform teachers, counselors, parents, and students in Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois about the LSAMP-IINSPIRE Program and increase their awareness about STEM careers.
  • Engage current alliance students having interest and potential in STEM and increase their awareness about STEM majors and careers.
  • Collaborate with community-based recruiting models within the alliance.
  • Leverage and create initiatives that assist students in their transitions from high schools to colleges and from community colleges to bachelor-granting institutions.
  • Facilitate faculty collaboration across the alliance to share inclusive pedagogy and mentoring practices that lead to greater student success.
  • Connect and support students with mentored research opportunities.
  • Organize research training experiences for alliance students to earn a research certificate.
  • Provide training and resources for mentors who supervise undergraduate research projects.
  • Leverage institutional resources and partnerships, and use alliance and institutional data to implement effective programs based on institution-specific needs.
  • Assess alliance-wide and institutional outcomes and use evaluation results to inform and improve practices. 

Opportunities For You

Join a community of peers, mentors, faculty, and administrators who will help you excel at your own institution and throughout the LSAMP-IINSPIRE Alliance!

Here are some LSAMP-IINSPIRE priorities:

  • Build Community – engage with your fellow students in STEM club and in LSAMP-IINSPIRE
  • Research/Internship Opportunities – workshops on how to identify and apply to summer research opportunities at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Grinnell College, and potentially other high impact universities
  • Educational/Career Goals – workshops on how to set and achieve your educational and career goals 
  • Networking Opportunities – connect with Kirkwood faculty and alumni, and students and faculty from partner institutions at conferences and events

Criteria For Participating

In order to participate in the LSAMP-IINSPIRE program at Kirkwood Community College, you must meet the following criteria:

  • U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
  • College GPA of 2.5 or high school GPA of 2.7.
  • Enrolled in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) program.

Interested?

Contact:

Jana Fowler, Associate Dean
319-398-5660
jana.fowler@kirkwood.edu