STEM Undergraduate Travel Support

2023-2024 A.S.C.E.N.D. Student Travel Support for Presenting Research and Participating in Student Competition

(Spring 2024 and Summer 2024)

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) Student Success Center & Development (ASCEND) Program

AANAPISI Site: California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)

U.S. Department of Education – AANAPISI Grant Part A

ASCEND LOGO

                                                       

                            Deadline: Opened until all funds are awarded.

    To apply, please complete this travel support application or 

https://csulb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_42ZbaTaGDquFQXk

The 2023-2024 ASCEND student travel support applications for spring 2024 and summer 2024 are currently open until the fund is fully awarded. Applications will be reviewed on the 1st of each month, starting in February 1, 2024. ASCEND program prioritizes opportunities for Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) and underserved STEM undergraduate students to disseminate their research findings at a conference or to participate in a student competition for their soft skills development. Travels that promote students’ growth in an area of cognitive skills, confidence, professional development & career preparation toward student academic retention & accomplishments, future success, and higher education, can be all sponsored by the ASCEND student travel support. Undergraduate students pursuing an undergraduate degree in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines per ED definition, that most benefit from the ASCEND student travel fund are encouraged to apply. A maximum of $500 and $1,000 are for in-state and out-of-state travel, respectively. Travel must occur between January 2024 to September 2024.

Questions? For more information, please visit our ASCEND: AANAPISI website (https://www.csulb.edu/ascend). If you have questions about the ASCEND scholarship applications, please feel free to contact us at ASCEND.AANAPISI@csulb.edu.

  • U.S. citizens or legal US permanent residents.
  • Full-time enrollment.
  • Undergraduate students with STEM majors, defined by ED, from College of Business (COB)*, College of Health and Human Services (CHHS)**, College of Liberal Arts (CLA)**, College of Natural Science and Mathematics (CNSM), and College of Engineering (COE).

          * Only Information Systems major.

          ** Please, check www.csulb.edu/ascend before applying.

  • Being involved in research and showing proof of abstract acceptance or participating in a student competition.

  1. Complete the online ASCEND student travel support application (click here for application or

https://csulb.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_afXcMgkkdY2olfM)

  1. Proof of abstract acceptance or registration for a student competition event.
  2. Contact information of research faculty advisor or student competition team’s advisor.
  3. Statement of ASCEND student travel support impacts toward student’s success and ASCEND-AANAPISI program’s missions. This statement should include:
    • needs for ASCEND student travel fund to enhance student’s preparation as well as academic and future success for Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) and underserved students. Impacts of ASCEND student travel support once awarded (maximum 250 words)
    • academic and career goals. How does this travel associated with the ASCEND travel support enhance students to achieve these goals? What would happen if the student do not receive the ASCEND student travel support? (maximum 250 words)
    • potential to enhance ASCEND:AANAPISI’s missions. One of ASCEND: AANAPISI grant’s missions is to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility toward Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) and underserved populations in STEM (research, academia and workforce) community. (maximum 250 words)
  4. Applicants must provide a consent for ASCEND student travel support review committee to obtain student academic records on CSULB system.

  1. Needs justification.
  2. Impacts of ASCEND student travel support toward student’s goals and success.
  3. Potential to advance ASCEND-AANAPISI missions as well as ability to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility on STEM environment for groups.
  4. Commitment to participate in conference or student competition.
  5. Quality of application package.
  6. Letter of support from faculty research advisor or student organization advisor.

Once selected for an ASCEND student travel award recipients, ASCEND travel support awardees:

  1. Submit a travel request at least one month before travel and submit a travel claim within one month after the travel. Travel must be completed by September 30, 2024.
  2. Must submit a summary of the travel outcomes to ASCEND along with travel claim after your trip.
  3. Research or student organization advisor’s travel approval. ASCEND will reimburse travel expenses based on student’s actual travel expenses at less than or equal to $500 for in State travel and less than or equal to $1,000 for out-of-state travel.
  4. Must declare for all other travel support.
  5. Are highly recommended taking Asian American, or Native American Pacific Islander relevant General Educational courses (G.E. foundation, G.E. exploration or upper division G.E.) within one year after receiving ASCEND scholarship.

If students have enrolled in one of suggested G.E. courses, students are not required to take an additional course if the students have taken or are taking one of the following courses. The courses under the following course prefixes are considered:

    • Asian & Asian American Studies (AAAS)
    • Asian American Studies (ASAM)
    • Asian Studies (A/ST)
    • Cambodian (KHMR)
    • Chinese (CHIN)
    • Filipino (FIL)
    • Japanese (JAPN)
    • Korean (KOR)
    • Vietnamese (VIET)
  2. Are required to complete at least one ASCEND professional and leadership workshops (see ASCEND website at www.csulb.edu/ascend for more details).
  3. Must meet their academic advisor to prepare their degree planner.
  4. Must grant ASCEND team permission to track student’s academic performance to evaluate ASCEND’s impacts towards student’ success.
  5. Must complete ASCEND evaluation and survey forms.
  6. Must agree to be included in the ASCEND email list, ASCEND discord group and LinkedIn.

The ASCEND program eliminates barriers, gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age and assures equitable access to, and participation in the program.