An Initiative to Strengthen the Natural Sciences: a Central Component of Liberal Education

三组八名有学术天赋、经济困难的STEM专业学生将获得为期两年的奖学金，每年金额为10,000美元。这些学者是从两个学生团体中招募的，一个是即将入学的新生，另一个是从斯克内克塔迪县社区学院转来的学生。斯克内克塔迪县社区学院是一所与斯基德莫尔签订了衔接协议的地区社区学院。该机构最初是一所女子学院，至今仍以女性为主，女性占学生总数的59%。在2001年至2006年期间，女性获得了57%的STEM学位，这反映了学生的构成。越来越多的少数民族在STEM学科中主修和毕业。该项目以目前提供学术支持的项目为基础，正在培养来自不同背景的学生之间的社区意识。与学院的机会项目合作，解决教育和经济上处于不利地位的学生的需求，使这些学生能够脱颖而出。

Three cohorts of eight academically talented, financially needy students majoring in STEM disciplines are being awarded two-year scholarships in the amount of $10,000 annually. The scholars are being recruited from two student groups, incoming freshman and transfers from Schenectady County Community College - a regional community college that has an articulation agreement with Skidmore. The institution originated as a women''s college and remains predominately female with women constituting 59% of the student body . Reflective of the student body composition, women earned 57% of the STEM degrees awarded during the 2001 -2006 period.Increasing the number of minorities majoring and graduating in STEM disciplines is being emphasized. The project is building on current programs providing academic support and is fostering a sense of community among students from disparate backgrounds. Collaboration with the college's Opportunity Programs that address the needs of educationally and economically disadvantaged students is enabling these students to excel.