Chemeketa Community College Awarded National Science Foundation Grant To Empower STEM Students Through Course-Based Research (Photo) - 08/24/26

Innovative NSF ITYC initiative embeds authentic scientific research into introductory classes, expands field research at Opal Creek, and creates warm handoffs to regional universities.

Salem, Ore., August 24, 2026 — Chemeketa Community College has been awarded a competitive grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Innovations in Two-Year College STEM Education (ITYC) program for a new project titled “Increasing STEM Persistence and Transfer through Course-Based Research Experiences.” The project aims to transform STEM education for community college undergraduates by embedding authentic scientific research directly into foundational coursework, helping students build professional STEM identities, and successfully transfer to four-year degree programs.

Chemeketa serves over 18,000 students across a 2,600-square-mile district in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Many community college students balance work and family commitments—64% of financial aid applicants are Pell-eligible, 49% are first-generation college students, and more than a third work 20 or more hours per week. Traditional unpaid or extracurricular summer research opportunities are often out of reach. This grant directly overcomes those obstacles by integrating high-impact research experiences straight into transferable courses across biology, chemistry, geology, physics, environmental science, and mathematics.

"I am incredibly excited about this initiative. Research experiences are proven to build student confidence and cut completion gaps in half for low-income and first-generation college students. Yet community college undergraduates rarely get access to authentic research early in their academic journey. By integrating real-world research straight into our curriculum, we are removing barriers, fostering a deep sense of belonging, and preparing our students to excel both at four-year universities and in high-demand STEM careers across Oregon."
— Chemeketa Community College President, Dr. Jessica Howard

Key Initiative Components & Interdisciplinary Scope

The project is led by Dr. Jennifer Johns and Keith Scholeman, together with multi-departmental faculty teams, the initiative encompasses several core strategies including hands-on classroom research, forest research at Opal Creek, community projects with the City of Salem, and transfer university partnerships.

Faculty Development & National Dissemination

Beyond direct student engagement, the grant provides scaffolded professional development and curriculum redesign stipends for both full-time and adjunct faculty, coordinated through Chemeketa’s Center for Academic Innovation. To ensure broad educational impact, project outcomes and tested teaching tools will be compiled into a pedagogical handbook published by Chemeketa Press—the nation’s only community college press—serving as a national model for two-year college STEM education.

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For more than 55 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second largest multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves more than 18,000 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).

Chemeketa Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution.