The WORC Scholars Program is a comprehensive initiative designed to recruit, retain, and develop STEM majors from high school to career. Funded by the WORC grant through a partnership with the Savannah River Site Reuse Organization (SRSCRO) and the Department of Energy, the program offers scholarships and research opportunities to STEM students at USCA. Recently, the National Nuclear Security Administration's NuWork Initiative invested in the WORC grant to build a sustainable workforce for key missions, including the plutonium pit, tritium, and surplus plutonium disposition missions at SRS. This initiative focuses on identifying critical competencies for NNSA’s workforce. To support this mission, USCA’s College of Sciences and Engineering and the USCA Center for Research Excellence have established the WORC Scholars Program, targeting five disciplines: Engineering, Applied Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Goals of the WORC Scholars Program:
- Recruit, retain, and develop capable STEM majors, particularly from underrepresented groups, to pursue and obtain STEM degrees.
- Attract students to the College of Sciences and Engineering (CSE) in majors such as Process Engineering, Applied Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology with a concentration in Environmental Remediation and Restoration, preparing them for future employment at the Savannah River Site (SRS).
- Provide professional experience to these students, enabling them to pursue meaningful careers in STEM fields that support NNSA and DOE missions.
The WORC Scholars Program aligns with the university’s institutional goals and the College of Sciences and Engineering's mission to deliver high-quality, liberal arts-based STEM education, ensuring students are career-ready.
The two primary goals of the WSP will be accomplished through four focus areas:
- Professional Experience
- High School Outreach
- WORC Leaders Program
- Sponsorship
