POTSDAM – SUNY Potsdam's Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program and North Country Science and Technology Entry Program will receive $2.8 million over five years from two New York State Department of Education grants.

The funding will allow the college's longstanding NCSTEP and CSTEP programs to continue to provide guidance in preparing students for careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

For more than 25 years, these SUNY Potsdam programs have been serving local middle school, high school and college students, with the goal of increasing the number of low-income and underrepresented minority students pursuing majors and careers in STEM fields and the licensed professions. These professions include more than 45 different careers, such as medicine, law, social work, counseling and occupational and physical therapy.

SUNY Potsdam's CSTEP will now be able to increase program enrollment by 35 percent for the new funding cycle.

"It really is an amazing time for students to pursue these careers at SUNY Potsdam," CSTEP Director Sean Partridge said. "We have excellent programs and supportive faculty in all of our departments, we're seeing a tremendous increase in the diversity of our student body and we continue to add new programs in STEM and health fields."

In addition to increasing the number of students served by the program, CSTEP also plans to expand the number of opportunities provided through its Internship and Research Program, allowing more students to get hands-on experience in the laboratory or on the job site, prior to graduation.

CSTEP will continue to offer a wide range of academic support workshops and services, including tutoring, assistance with applying to graduate and professional school and career development seminars, both for new students and those entering the highly competitive job market. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/cstep.

Under the new grant, NCSTEP will continue to serve more than 200 students in grades 7 to 12, in the Massena, Salmon River, Madrid-Waddington, Potsdam and Parishville-Hopkinton school districts. For the new funding cycle, NCSTEP plans to increase the opportunities for internships, job shadowing, research and service learning experiences for students in grades 10 to 12.

"NCSTEP is very pleased to extend our relationship with the schools and communities we serve. We are also thrilled about the opportunity to continue delivering services to participants and excited to offer some new programming options as well," said NCSTEP Director Mary Stickney.

Other NCSTEP services include math, science and technology enrichment; college and financial aid application guidance; SAT/ACT preparation and fee waivers; study skills workshops; academic counseling; tutoring; field trips; college visits, and a residential Summer Math & Science Camp held on the SUNY Potsdam campus. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu/ncstep.