WCU Center for STEM Inclusion Expands STEM Workforce Education for Local Students in Critical Areas of National Need
Kicking off the new academic year with a spate of new programming is the WCU Center for STEM Inclusion, an academic enrichment center dedicated to empowering southeastern Pennsylvania’s K-12 children and youth with untapped potential to boldly pursue fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Among the Center’s new offerings are the following:
- STEM Outreach Ambassadors: WCU has tapped into the Federal Work Study program to develop a cohort of trained STEM undergraduate students who can lead and participate in outreach events. The STEM undergraduate students will serve as mentors to the K-12 students that the Center reaches out to.
- STEM Catering Service: WCU faculty and undergraduate students will bring the science to the students, with all equipment and supplies to perform hands-on college-level experiments to middle and high school classes.
- Strategic STEM-Focused Dual Enrollment Offerings: WCU is actively working with its high school and nonprofit partners to explore dual enrollment opportunities to support students from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM. Many high schools in lower income districts do not offer AP courses in precalculus, calculus or statistics, which are critical gateway courses for students hoping to enter a STEM field. The goal will be for the students to earn high school and college credit by taking this course from a WCU faculty member. A head start will be given to the students as they begin their journey toward a STEM career.
The new programs expand on the Center’s impact, having reached more than 3,000 students
over the past three years through hands-on activities such as Super Science Saturday,
Science of Learning Series, Summer Nanoscience Camp, Evening STEMersion Workshops,
and Smart Rover Coding Workshops.
“The Center for STEM inclusion provides K-12 students not only access to excellent
university faculty, but also access to undergraduate students who can speak to future
educational opportunities” says Dr. Jessica OShaughnessy, dean of West Chester University’s
College of the Sciences and Mathematics. “We are excited about the opportunity to
work with a diverse group of students, opening the door to new ideas in STEM fields
and expanding workforce opportunities in the region.”
The Center for STEM Inclusion has the potential to be a game changer for the region
by offering workforce education and hands-on training in high-demand, high-paying
fields such as computer science, computer engineering, semiconductor manufacturing,
biomedical engineering, and quantum information to students starting in elementary
school. WCU is also partnering with local universities to offer new 3-2 master degree
programs in Quantum Science & Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering. Programs
such as these, and future programs in the works, open-up new and affordable paths
for students to enter these emerging high-demand fields.
Dedicated to breaking down systemic barriers to student success and establishing a
diverse STEM workforce, the WCU Center for STEM Inclusion links experts in secondary
and higher education, industry, government, and education-focused non-profit organizations
directly with students from diverse backgrounds, including those from families with
low socioeconomic means and historically excluded groups. These nurturing partnerships
yield the vital resources and supports that students need to successfully pursue STEM
careers. Currently, the Center for STEM Inclusion is partnering with more than 20
schools in southeastern PA as well as several local nonprofit organizations; more
partners are encouraged to join in.
Led by West Chester University Professor of Physics and Engineering Dr. Brandon J.
Mitchell, the WCU Center for STEM Inclusion has been designed as a dynamic outreach,
research, and mentorship program that guides students successfully from elementary
school to high school and then through a bachelor’s degree in STEM. The program establishes
a chain of mentorship between grades 3-12 students, undergraduates, and faculty/industry
partners.
“Along the way, the students participating in the Center’s programming clearly see
every next step in their path toward a STEM career with the guidance and support needed
to be successful,” says Dr. Mitchell. “In addition to possibly serving as a national
model for addressing achievement gaps, our work can significantly help meet STEM employment
needs, as well as work to alleviate the cost of attendance for students pursuing and
completing STEM degrees who are low-income and come from groups typically underrepresented
in STEM fields.”
Underscoring the Center’s approach, Dr. Mitchell stresses the Center’s STEM inclusion
formula — engage, motivate, expose, support, and inform the students throughout their
experiences.
“In Grades 3-7, we engage students in STEM ideas and motivate them to learn more about
STEM,” Dr. Mitchell said. “In middle and high school, we expose them to modern STEM
fields and practices and inform them about the modern STEM workforce, as well as what
it takes to get them there.
“When students join WCU, we support them with bridge programs, tutoring and peer mentoring.
In their final years at WCU, we expose them to potential career options and inform
them on how to apply for jobs with resume workshops, mock interviews and Career Fairs.”
Connecting the dots at all entry points, the Center for STEM Inclusion incorporates
partners, such as local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions,
where they are most needed. Partners play a critical role in supporting students along
their journey by helping to provide food and transportation; donating supplies and
consumables, such as chemicals and electrodes; providing scholarships; as well as
lending additional administrative support.
Dr. Abbie Ganas, assistant professor of chemistry and assistant chair of the STEM
Outreach Committee, adds, “At the WCU Center for STEM Inclusion, we are committed
to helping all students pursue pathways that can lead to rewarding careers in growing,
high-impact fields where talented professionals from all backgrounds are needed more
than ever.”
For additional information about the WCU Center for STEM Inclusion or to learn how
to partner with the Center, please visit the center's website.