# CAREER: Understanding and Transforming Engineering Education at Broad-Access Institutions

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · San Francisco State University (CA) · $650,000

## Abstract

Over half of all American college students are low-income or come from families where neither parent has a bachelor's degrees (also known as 'first-generation students'). These low-income and first-generation students disproportionately enroll in broad-access institutions— colleges and universities that accept almost anyone who applies. These students graduate at rates that are half that of students who are not low-income or first-generation. They also end up with larger debt burdens and lower GPAs. Even though such students comprise the majority of American college students, engineering education researchers have paid little attention to them or the institutions where they enroll. This project aims to address that oversight by identifying ways that engineering faculty and staff can better support low-income and first-generation engineering students in broad-access institutions. This project will improve engineering education in broad-access institutions by studying how low-income and first-generation engineering students leverage their unique assets and achieve success in an educational system that has been slow to change to meet their needs. This project will directly impact the educational practices of engineering faculty and staff at broad-access institutions through participation in a  community of practice, during which members will work to improve  broad-access engineering programs around the United States. Findings from this project will help educators understand h

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2440529
- **Awardee organization:** San Francisco State University (CA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** F4SLJ5WF59F6
- **PI:** Stephanie A Claussen
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, ENGINEERING EDUCATION
- **Estimated total:** $650,000
- **Funds obligated:** $650,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 08/15/2025 → 07/31/2030

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2440529

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2440529, CAREER: Understanding and Transforming Engineering Education at Broad-Access Institutions. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2440529. Licensed CC0.

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