ASPIRE STEM Program Student Selection Criteria Area of Consideration Criterion Measure Citizen/Residency Status All applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, legal permanent status, or refugee aliens. Declaration of Major All applicants must declare a major in one of the following STEM departments: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Exercise Physiology, or Mathematics. First-Time, Full-Time Status All applicants must be enrolled as first-time, full-time (at least 12 credits enrolled per semester) degree-track students. Financial Need/Ethnicity Per grant requirements, all applicants must either demonstrate a high level of financial need, determined by the Director of Student Financing and defined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), OR identify as Hispanic and/or Latina/o/x. Interview The selection committee will review all applications and contact eligible students to schedule an interview. Selected applicants can choose to meet either in-person at William Paterson University or virtually via telecommunication software (e.g. Zoom). Winter & Summer Program Attendance Current, full-time WPUNJ STEM students who started their degree programs in the Fall 2024 term and students transferring into WPUNJ for the Spring 2025 term must participate in the mandatory Winter Bridge Program for Transfer/Current Students (January 13, 2025 to January 17, 2025). This program will run Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM. ASPIRE Winter Program participants will receive complimentary lunch daily and a transportation stipend upon completion of the program. All first-time, full-time, first-year participants starting their degree programs in the Fall 2025 term must participate in the mandatory Summer Bridge Program for Incoming First-Year Students (July 7, 2025 to July 22, 2025). All first-time transfer student participants starting their degree programs in the Fall 2025 term OR current full-time WPUNJ STEM students who started their degree programs in the Spring 2025 term must participate in the mandatory Summer Research Experience for Transfer Students (July 7, 2025 to August 7, 2025). Both summer programs will run Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 3 PM. ASPIRE participants will receive complimentary lunch daily and a transportation stipend upon completion of their respective summer program. An OPTIONAL, NO COST summer housing program is only available for incoming first-year students participating in the Summer Bridge Program for Incoming First-Year Students; this program option includes complimentary housing during the week and free meals while residing on campus (please indicate interest in this option on our application to learn more!)
