Area colleges are receiving nearly $1.5 Million from the National Science Foundation.

This grant is to promote majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, called STEM.

Nationwide, there have been a smaller number of students enrolled in STEM majors, compared to the number of jobs available in those fields.

And hopefully, the grant will draw more students into those majors and careers.

Roman Miller is a Professor of Biology at EMU. He says when helping to prepare the grant application, he was not certain if they had a good chance. He is pleasantly surprised.

BRCC Dean of Life Sciences and Human Services, Hara Charlier says they need to get the word out to local high schools and make sure that there is a nice transition from the high school through the community college all the way up to four year institutions.