The Syracuse University administration should be commended for investing in research opportunities for non-STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students.

The application period for SU’s Student Association undergraduate summer research program is underway for the second consecutive year to allow 25 students to receive $1,000 in research funding. When the program first started it was sponsored solely by SA to sponsor seven students. This year, SA’s contribution of $10,000 for the program is being matched by SU’s Office of the Provost, said SA President Aysha Seedat. The Office of Research is also contributing $5,000.

Though the program is not limited to non-STEM students, Seedat said the program is intended for students who are not in STEM fields, considering STEM students often receive funding for their research through the university from third-party organizations.

And at a time when students may feel unnecessarily pressured to pursue STEM careers due to projected financial stability, it is progressive for SU to express encouragement through fiscal support. This backing shows that as an accomplished research institution, the university is consciously validating the ambitions of the greater campus community rather than ruling them out if not from tenure-track faculty, graduate students or solely STEM students.

Seedat said the research program is an example of an SA initiative that started out with exclusive funding by SA but then got “buy-in” from the university after SA showed the university how successful the program could be.

Moving forward, SU should ensure to remain inclusive of non-STEM students by advancing the university’s understanding that non-STEM students may not have access to equal opportunities as their peers and offer essential support in return — support that has the potential to propel the university forward as one research institution.