About VECTOR

Valencia Engaging for Completion Through Opportunities in Research

If you are selected for the program, you must be registered as full-time status and declare a STEM Meta-major for the Fall and Spring semesters while taking courses at Valencia College. In addition, completion of the VECTOR orientation is required and will take place in the summer prior to the first Fall semester after admittance into VECTOR. Vacations, family reunions, or other summer activities should be scheduled prior to or after this VECTOR summer orientation event. Upon successful completion of the VECTOR Program summer orientation, accepted students will become VECTOR Scholars in the Fall term. VECTOR Scholars will receive a scholarship of up to $8500 per academic year for a maximum of two years. Award funds will be split between the Fall and Spring semesters.

It is strongly encouraged that VECTOR scholars attend the Summer STEM Institute (SSI), which is organized by the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). VECTOR scholars will be assisted in registration for this event.

VECTOR scholars that successfully complete the program at Valencia College will complete the Transition Bootcamp during the summer prior to their transfer to a four-year institution. Scholars satisfactorily completing the Transition Bootcamp will receive a transfer scholarship of $1000 that will be applied to their four-year institution.

Furthermore, VECTOR scholars will receive individualized attention from Valencia's faculty and staff. More specifically, STEM faculty mentors and advisors will be dedicated to assisting students with STEM engagement and support. Due to the substantial support provided by this program, satisfactory attendance to courses and program activities are required for continued programmatic and financial support. In order to continue as a VECTOR scholar, scholars must demonstrate the following:

  • Maintain a 3.0 GPA (or above)
  • Completion of the VECTOR summer orientation
  • Completion of the Introduction to Research in STEM course
  • Completion of three STEM co-curricular activities per semester
  • Completion of co-curricular reflections in Canvas each semester
  • Meet with a STEM advisor once each semester
  • Meet with faculty mentor at the start and end of the semester
  • Attendance to all cohort meetings each semester

Vector Students

Ready To Submit?

Make sure you attach the following:

  • VECTOR Application
  • Personal Essay
  • Unoffical High School Transcript
  • Electronic Signature

Make sure at least one recommendation letter has been sent by the deadline

Email all items above to:
VECTOR@valenciacollege.edu

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1833818. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.