Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For priority consideration, apply early each semester. Submit an application and you will hear back from program staff within a couple of weeks. For immediate needs, contact us at LSAMP@nau.edu or 928-523-6704.

Once you receive an email confirming your acceptance into the LSAMP program, you will be eligible for early enrollment each semester and individualized academic support. You will also receive a link to our LSAMP Discord community for access to special events and opportunities. Additional services such as undergraduate research, internships, and the graduate school transition program require additional evaluation for eligibility.

Participation in undergraduate research has a strong positive impact on persistence and degree completion. The hands-on application of classroom knowledge offers many advantages, including:

• Gaining clarification of your academic and career goals.
• Networking within your discipline, which may connect you to future opportunities.
• Developing professional skills and adding valuable experience to your resume.
• Strengthening transferable skills like written and oral communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

These benefits will contribute to a successful undergraduate experience and prepare you for your future career in STEM. Whether you plan to pursue a graduate degree or join the workforce, undergraduate research will set you apart from your peers and open many doors!

How to find a research project:

LSAMP faculty and staff are committed to assisting participants find appropriate projects, research mentors, and funding.

We have distinguished faculty researchers across many STEM disciplines who are eager to work with LSAMP students. To be selected for this activity, you must be a sophomore or junior with an NSF supported STEM major*, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and meet eligibility requirements for the LSAMP program. Projects will last 6-8 weeks, have definitive start and end dates, and utilize appropriate benchmarks for completion of various components. We have a limited number of $2,000 stipends available each fall and spring. Email us at LSAMP@nau.edu or call 926-523-6740 to discuss a potential research project and apply for funding. Students who do not meet LSAMP eligibility requirements should consider these funding opportunities available through NAU’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity.

*This includes all CEFNS and CEIAS majors other than Construction Management, Secondary Education, and Exercise Science (which is considered a Health Professions degree). Below is a complete list of NAU majors that are considered NSF STEM degrees.

Financial aid is money lent or given to you to help you pay for college. Grants and scholarships are kinds of financial aid that you don’t have to pay back. Loans, however, must be paid back with interest. Follow these guidelines to get as much free (grants and scholarships) financial aid as possible each year. You can also meet with an advisor from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) for help with this process.

1. Complete the FAFSA by the priority deadline of April 1^st each year. Earlier applications may receive more free funding. The application period is October 1 – June 1 each year and since the FAFSA uses the prior year’s tax information there’s no need to wait! (ex: you can apply for aid for the 2024-2025 academic year on October 1, 2023 using tax records from 2022). Even if you don’t qualify for federal aid, many scholarships require a FAFSA on file for you to be considered.
2. Review all NAU scholarship opportunities here. All students can apply for NAU Foundation, OSFA, departmental, and private donor scholarships. Others listed have more specific eligibility requirements so make sure to review them as well.
3. Departmental and private donor scholarships may have different requirements and deadlines.
4. Apply for all scholarships for which you are eligible. Many require a single application to be considered for multiple scholarships (ex: there’s a single application for all NAU Foundation scholarships).
5. Mark important deadlines on your calendar or planner and request any letters of recommendation at least three weeks ahead of time.
6. Draft your essay or personal statement and ask for feedback. Some great resources are: The University Writing Commons, NAU Career Development, or a trusted mentor. Friends and relatives might not be the best resource since they may not be aware of current trends and expectations.
7. If requested, make sure to provide a current resume. Use this guide to create, checklist to review, and/or resume dropbox to get professional feedback from NAU Career Services.
8. Make sure to submit your complete application including all requested items by the deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered!
9. Keep an eye out for additional scholarship opportunities throughout the year. Any we learn about will be posted to our LSAMP Discord server. Good Luck!

Are you thinking about pursuing a graduate-level degree in STEM? There are many reasons to do so, including:

• Personal growth – New experiences help you know yourself better and gain confidence in your abilities and future career.
• Skill development – Learn new equipment and techniques while mastering basic skills through hands-on practice.
• Professionalism – Join or become more involved in a professional organization to interact with fellow researchers and experts in your field.
• Career flexibility – Gain a competitive edge in the job market with an advanced degree.
• Increased compensation – Enjoy a higher starting salary and more opportunity for advancement.

Preparing for graduate school admission can be overwhelming! Application requirements, personal statements, and letters of recommendation need to be planned for early. We will help you navigate this time-consuming and potentially expensive process. Participants in our Post-Baccalaureate Transition Success Program (PBTSP) will benefit from individualized programming while earning a $1,000 stipend. Our end goal is for participants to secure funding and admission into a graduate program in STEM.

Post-Baccalaureate Transition Success Program (PBTSP)

LSAMP’s Post-Baccalaureate Transition Success Program (PBTSP) was created to provide individualized support to upper-division undergraduate students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in a STEM discipline. Selected participants in the PBTSP will attend a series of graduate school prep events and workshops, culminating in the submission of at least three graduate school applications and the GEMS Fellowship.

A performance-based stipend of $1000 will be provided to a limited number of students upon successful completion of the PBTSP. To be eligible, students must:

• Meet LSAMP program eligibility requirements,
• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher,
• Attend all mandatory events (some support activities will be optional),
• Complete and submit the GEMS Fellowship application by the deadline,
• Complete and submit at least three graduate school applications.

Students who do not meet these requirements may benefit from these general grad school application steps, timeline, and test prep resources.