Skip to main content

Norwalk

UPLIFT

Posted in Norwalk.

male graduate smiles at cameraThe mission of the Unlocking Potential Leaders’ Insight For Tomorrow (UPLIFT) program is to provide a corridor to academic and career excellence for men of color students through discipline and focus on the tasks that lie ahead.

UPLIFT, through a holistic approach, will empower, educate, provide leadership, and motivate male students of color through active engagement by promoting an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming environment. This process will increase student’s success rates and generate a culture of high achievement and high expectations for men of color.

Background

There has been national attention focused on men of color. Research has shown that male students of color, particularly African American and Latino males, are completing college at a much lower rate than their white peers. As part of CT State Norwalk’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the college launched a Men of Color Initiative in February 2021 called UPLIFT. The program is designed to empower, inform, and encourage men of color to reach their highest academic potential. Although the formal program has been up and running since 2021, the UPLIFT concept and practice have been in place for 13 years, thanks to our founders Alfred Thomas, Jr. and Curtis Antrum.

The UPLIFT program at CT State Norwalk is designed to recruit, retain, and graduate men of color. Uplift provides academic support and guidance to help students improve their academic performance and self-confidence. UPLIFT will maximize the participant's involvement by building their tool-kit needed to plan, prepare and excel in class at Norwalk.

Uplift Program

Contact Us

Curtis Antrum, UPLIFT Program Coordinator
Email: curtis.antrum@ctstate.edu 
Phone: 203-857-7250
two men look book together two male graduates smile at camera two men sit across from each other talking

UPLIFT Provides

  • UPLIFT is committed to your success.  UPLIFT students will meet with the program coordinator and coaches on a regular basis to work individually on identifying weak areas of performance and develop strategies for success. The UPLIFT team will assist the student in creating steps to success. These steps will include:

    • Understanding your workload
    • Realistically challenging yourself with schedules
    • Improving communication with faculty
    • Accept constructive criticism and recommendations
    • Mastering Research
    • Providing referrals to campus services

  • Paid on-campus internship opportunities of up to 10 hours a week are available for interested students.

    Students will have the opportunity to learn valuable work experience in various areas of the college.

  • The practical applications to what will be learned in Norwalk UPLIFT program are:

    • Students will have a greater understanding of their strengths and weaknesses
    • Students will build on their tool-kit to tackle those challenges that confront them
    • Students will have access to the UPLIFT staff and mentors to bounce their ideas off of as they pursue their passion
    • Students will have the confidentiality of the UPLIFT staff to discuss matters related to their college experience and beyond.
    • Students will be empowered to chart their course of study

  • Norwalk UPLIFT staff will ensure students will be properly referred to different campus agencies to provide:

    • academic resources
    • scholarship opportunities or stipends
    • avenues to address fairness and equity in the classroom
    • prep for work-life experience
    • academic support for students

  • The Norwalk UPLIFT mentoring program understands that men of color benefit from having mentors and role models who can identify with the challenges associated with college study. UPLIFT has focused its attention on finding qualified mentors who have success stories to share with our students and are dedicated to supporting members of UPLIFT in pursuit of achieving excellence in their college experience. These mentors, who are experts in their field of study are following and tracking those assigned to them to develop good habits and avoid pitfalls. When a mentor has a similar background or experience as the mentee, cultural trust can be established to have an effective mentoring relationship. The Mentoring program pairs students with professionals and alumni to help students with their educational and career goals.

  • What is an UPLIFT college workshop at NCC?

    Norwalk's UPLIFT workshops and talks usually include guest speakers who are Professors, Staff, Industry Giants and UPLIFT staff members introducing themes and concepts. These master craftsmen and women with tremendous skill sets have keen insight into related topics of discussion. The workshops may be designed to have students experience hands-on learning in addition to discussions and formal presentations.  Rigorous debate may occur on a given topic to inspire greater thought and learning.

    The UPLIFT program will offer a variety of virtual and in person workshops to expose students to the necessary skills needed to succeed.

  • Hits: 3584

S-STEM Scholarship

Posted in Norwalk.

Unleash your passion for engineering and shape a better world!

two students work together on robotosMale And Female College Or University Engineering Students In Robotics Class Working TogetherThe National Science Foundation has awarded an S-STEM grant to the CT State Norwalk Engineering program. The S-STEM program aims to support talented students in pursuing successful education and careers in STEM fields. The program fosters students' academic goals by offering various extracurricular activities, including

  • Attending STEM Conferences
  • Tours of universities and industries
  • Peer, faculty, and industry mentoring
  • Summer research at partner universities
  • Personalized academic and transfer advising
  • Scholarships of up to $30,000 over three years

Apply Now

Eligibility Requirements

Young Asian man working with laptop computer [antdesign-filled--check-circle]
Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident of the United States
[antdesign-filled--check-circle]
Must be an Engineering Science major at CT State Norwalk

You must be enrolled in the CT State Norwalk Engineering Science AS degree program at least half-time.

Not a Norwalk student? Click here to apply. Make sure to choose Norwalk as your home campus.

Need to change your major? Fill out this form and submit to Enrollment Center.

[antdesign-filled--check-circle]
Current and transfer students need a minimum college GPA of 2.5, while first-time college students must have a high school GPA of at least 3.0
[antdesign-filled--check-circle]

To receive financial support, you must file a FAFSA

Haven't applied for FAFSA yet? Learn more about financial aid at CT State.

Panoramic image of multiracial happy, smiling college students in classroom listening to lecture

How to Apply

Students doing a science project [antdesign-filled--exclamation-circle]

Priority Deadline and Award Decision Timeline

The application priority deadline for each semester is four weeks before the semester begins. However, we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible. Award decisions will be emailed to applicants within two weeks. While applications submitted after the priority deadline are accepted, they will only be reviewed if the review committee does not find suitable candidates among those who applied by the priority deadline.

You will need the following items to apply:

  • You need to know your GPA when filling out the application form.

    • Norwalk students: Use your CT State GPA
    • Transfer students: Use your previous college GPA.
    • First-time college students: Use your high school GPA

    We will reach out via email with instructions on how to provide your transcript after you submit your application.

  • You will need to provide the email address of a high school STEM or college faculty when filling out the application form.

    We will reach out to them via email with instructions on how to provide the recommendation letter.

  • Briefly answer this question in this form. There are no right or wrong answers. We just want to know you a little better.

Apply Now

You'll be asked to login using your NetID and password. Don't remember? Utilize the online help desk.  

For questions and support, please contact Dr Rastgar Agah, the Engineering Program Coordinator at Norwalk campus: mobin.rastgaragah@ctstate.edu

Learn More

Learn More About the NSF S-STEM Program

Learn More About the NCC S-STEM Award

  • Hits: 7076

Welcome From the Norwalk Campus CEO

Posted in Norwalk.

Cheryl DevonishWelcome Norwalk students!

CT State Norwalk offers nearly a thousand credit and non-credit courses, which can be taken in pursuit of a degree or certificate or for personal and professional enrichment. The campus has a rich campus life, with many events, clubs and activities. And we offer student services to help you succeed from orientation to graduation, including child care through our Child Development Lab School.

Our academic programs prepare students for ready transfer to many baccalaureate institutions, and our Lifetime Learners Institute is one of the largest groups of active seniors in retirement in the country.

Be sure to click on the many enrichment services of the campus. Our Service Learning program combines classroom instruction with meaningful community service.

If you are a business in need of employee training, please see our customized training programs offered through our division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development.

Please contact our Admissions Office if you’d like to learn more or to begin the application process.

Sincerely,

Cheryl C. De Vonish, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer, CT State Norwalk

  • Hits: 4477