The Iowa Illinois Nebraska STEM Partnership for Innovation in Research and Education (IINSPIRE) is an NSF-funded alliance among 16 two-year and four-year colleges and universities in the Midwest. Institutions in the alliance are working together to support undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and develop a robust STEM workforce serving the region and nation. The alliance uses high-impact, evidence-based practices to increase STEM student success through research experiences, training, mentoring, professional development, and academic support.

The IINSPIRE Alliance consists of the colleges and universities listed below.

• Public state universities (red dots): Iowa State University (ISU) (lead institution), University of Iowa (UI),and University of Northern Iowa (UNI) 

  
• Iowa community colleges (purple dots): Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD), Hawkeye Community College (HCC), Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD), and Kirkwood Community College (KCC)
• Private colleges/universities (green dots): Augustana College (IL), Doane University (NE), Grinnell College (IA), Luther College (IA), Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU), and Wartburg College (IA)
• Nebraska tribal college (purple dot J): Little Priest Tribal College (LPTC)

Applications from students who transfer from IINSPIRE Alliance two-year and four-year colleges and universities will be prioritized for acceptance into the UI-LSAMP program.

The alliance consists of six two-year colleges, seven private bachelor’s degree-granting institutions, and three public state universities. These institutions have unique roles in the region in developing a robust STEM workforce. The alliance supports research and professional development experiences for STEM undergraduate students at alliance institutions. The alliance provides training and resources for mentors who supervise undergraduate research projects. In addition, faculty members across the alliance have access to workshops and resources about student-centered teaching and mentoring practices that lead to greater student success.

The alliance promotes evidence-based and innovative strategies focused on bridge programs and transitions, faculty engagement and student-centered pedagogy, student research opportunities, mentorship, mentor training, and institutional integration. The project has created campus-specific student experience models that leverage resources and programs at an institution and in the alliance. 

The STEM pathway through different types of institutions is being influenced through the IINSPIRE program. Campus programs are helping students grow academically and professionally and increase their success, which will strengthen the STEM workforce. Collaboration and partnering are advancing the capacity to increase the number of graduates in STEM. A web portal managed by the NSF Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College for the IINSPIRE Alliance serves as a repository to compile and share resources.

In addition to carrying out paid undergraduate research, UI-LSAMP Interns are invited to enroll in an ISA – Student Development Seminars (1 s.h.) depending on the student’s point of entry into the program. Course should be determined with assistance from program staff.

UI-LSAMP is funded by the UI Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (UI-LSAMP) grant throughthe National Science Foundation (NSF) and named after former U.S. Representative Louis Stokes who served as a leading figure in United States Congress. Race, ethnicity, and gender are not used for eligibility criteria.