North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

In 1991, the United States Congress established the Alliances for Minority Participation (AMP) to enhance the quality and quantity of students from historically underrepresented groups completing baccalaureate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), with the goal of these students subsequently earning advanced degrees in STEM disciplines. The initial AMP included universities nationwide, such as Stanford University, Texas Southern University, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas-Austin, Texas Prairie View A&M, the University of Washington, and North Carolina A&T State University, which served as the alliance lead. In 1999, the initiative was renamed the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation to honor Louis Stokes, the first African American elected to Congress from Ohio.

The NC-LSAMP SPRA comprises eight University of North Carolina campuses: Fayetteville State University, North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, University North Carlina Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Charlotte, University of North Carolina Pembroke, and Winston-Salem State University. This alliance aims to diversify the nation's STEM workforce by increasing the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to historically underrepresented populations, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders, and females. The LSAMP model, based on Tinto’s model of student retention, emphasizes academic and social integration. The NC-LSAMP focuses on transforming undergraduate STEM education through innovative recruitment and retention strategies and engaging students in cutting-edge research with talented mentors year-round. This comprehensive approach supports the development and retention of STEM students from diverse backgrounds.