Stevens ACES: Enhancing Opportunities for Underserved High School Students in STEM

1. Presented to President’s Leadership Council Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science) Marybeth Murphy Vice President Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs PLC Facilitator: Nate Davis November 7th 2017

2. Stevens ACES The goals of this program are to provide enhanced opportunities, including financial support, for underserved students and those from URM groups through a focused outreach to carefully selected, talented high school students. The program has three key components: Pre-collegecomponent providing students an opportunity to experience college and to inspire and support them to pursue a college education Enduring multidimensional partnerships with high schools, strengthening STEM teaching expertise and capacity Strong financial support and mentoring programs once matriculated at Stevens

3. Stevens ACES – Partnerships Stevens ACES will be supported by three important partnerships Corporate/foundation – providing the critically needed financial support Alumni/friends – providing financial support, assistance with communications, outreach, and mentoring High-school partners – helping us to identify the right students and assisting them to successfully prepare for college admission

4. Overview of High School Partner Program Office of Pre-College Programs (Christie Graziano, Director) • Full scholarships for underserved students to attend the Stevens Pre-College Summer Program Office of Undergraduate Admissions (Jackie Williams, Dean) • Special consideration for undergraduate scholarships • Customized admissions visit days for students and families, admissions and financial aid workshops, and class field trips to Stevens research labs • Special programs for selected students, including some overnight programs on campus • A dedicated admissions counselor for the high school partners Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (Mercedes McKay, Co-Director for Research) • Professional development for school counselors, science and math teachers • Inclusion in federal, state and corporate-sponsored grant programs and partnerships Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (Deborah Berkley, Dean Student Development & Enrichment Programs) • Student and alumni mentors • Academic support and professional development • The services Stevens may provide, include:

5. Pre-College Programs Stevens Pre-College programs provide high school students with academic and social enrichment programs. Participants experience a collegiate atmosphere first-hand to better understand undergraduate degree programs and professional opportunities. There are no grades so students work together on projects in a stress-free environment and explore their interests. Students test-drive the college experience. • Live on campus in residence halls and participate in social programs and activities. • Participate in academic modules and research projects taught by Stevens faculty. • Explore a potential college major • Make lifelong friendships with students

6. 2017 Program Offerings Engineering & Science Programs • Cybersecurity • Engineering Design & Architecture • Exploring Career Options in Engineering & Science (ECOES) • Introduction to Coding • Intermediate Computer Science • Pre-Med Biology • Pre-Med Biomedical Engineering • 18 Sessions offered in 13 different subject areas Business Programs • Entrepreneurship: From an Idea to a Startup • Business Explorer Technology Society & The Arts Programs • STEM Law & Policy • Designing Virtual Reality Experiences • Game Design • Electronic Music Production

7. Summer 2017 Participants 88% Attending Stevens Pre-College made them excited to go to college 71% Attending Stevens Pre-College made them more confident in their academic abilities 70% Attending Stevens Pre-College helped them decide on a college major 83% Attending Stevens Pre-College made them more confident in their social abilities

8. Pre-College Application Process Each high school administrator will nominate up to 3 students, with the goal of enrolling 20 students overall into the summer Pre-College Program. Nominated students should: Be current sophomores or juniors interested in participating in a Pre-College Program Be from a population typically underrepresented in STEM education Be within the top 10% of their class Complete the online application by the February 15, 2018 deadline The online application consists of: A 500 word personal statement An official high school transcript A letter of recommendation from a teacher Upon acceptance, students will be required to complete all online health and registration paperwork before attending the program.

9. Undergraduate Admissions Dedicated Admissions Counselor Yajaira Pons – Assistant Director of Diversity Initiatives Admissions Requirements for Programs in Science, Computer Science and Engineering Calculus, Pre-Calculus Biology, Chemistry, Physics Invitations to Campus Events including Diversity Hosting Weekend Understanding Financial Aid Workshop Admissions Process, College Search Workshops Customized Visits to Stevens’ Research Labs and Tours of Campus Special Consideration for Scholarships Consideration for Admission to our STEP Program

10. STEP – EOF STEP Mission To increase the pool of underrepresented groups within engineering, science and other technical related fields; created in 1968 by a team of Stevens undergraduate students and faculty members. New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program “Established in 1968 to provide meaningful access to higher education for students from economic and educational disadvantaged backgrounds. The Fund assists low-income New Jersey residents who are capable and motivated but lack adequate preparation for college study.” In 2018 both STEP and NJ-EOF will be celebrating 50 years of success. NJ-EOF is one of the most successful programs of its kind in the nation, and STEP at Stevens is one of the first programs of its kind in the US. Each year approximately 30-35 STEP and EOF incoming freshmen attend the Bridge program – the start of their STEP-EOF experience Today we offer services to 166 students (includes the students who seek us out during freshman year) • Stevens Technical Enrichment Program – Educational Opportunity Fund Program

11. STEP – EOF • Bridge – six week summer residential transition program • Tutoring, counseling & advising • Personal & professional development • Networking with alumni & other professionals • Community engagement & outreach • Cultural exploration and celebrations • Student Organization support (NSBE, SHPE, LAA, BSU) • Services and Programs

12. Professional Development Programs • Focus on hands-on science inquiry, mathematics, engineering design and computer technology • Designed to strengthen STEM teaching expertise • Emphasize high quality, standards-based curricula and explore hands-on instructional strategies that support school improvement in STEM content • Opportunities to meet with research faculty and tour Stevens’ research facilities • Led by Stevens’ Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) • For High School Science and Mathematics Teachers CIESE is an award-winning outreach center, including a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics & Engineering Mentoring, and has provided K-12 STEM professional development programs for nearly 30 years.

13. Professional Development Programs • Focus on STEM career opportunities • Emphasize coursework and preparation for STEM study • Explore mentoring programs in STEM • Review college application process • Meet current Stevens students of diverse backgrounds and recent graduates with interesting and non-traditional STEM jobs • Opportunities to meet with research faculty and tour Stevens’ research facilities • Led by Stevens’ Admissions Office and Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) • For High School Counselors

14. Other Benefits to Partner Schools Opportunities to partner with Stevens on federal and state grant applications for teacher professional development and other STEM education initiatives Opportunities to pilot new STEM curricula Invitations for students and educators to Stevens outreach events including: Ethics Bowl (fall) Re-imagining Calculus EducationConference (fall) Math Olympiad (spring) Trading Day (spring) Innovation Expo (spring) Like a Boss (spring) Discover E Day (spring)

15. High School Partners Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn Hoboken High School, Hoboken KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy, Newark North Star Academy – Lincoln Park High School, Newark North Star Academy – Washington Park High School, Newark Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology, Paterson Science Park High School, Newark St. Benedict’s Preparatory School (Male), Newark Saint Dominic Academy (Female), Jersey City Schools were selected based upon:

16. ACES Program Size • Pre-College Program • Growth of ~10% per year, based on 93 participants in Summer 2016 • Anticipating two-week/one-week mix of 60%/40% • Undergraduate Admission • Growth of ~7.5% per year, based on 94 students in Fall 2016 • Pre-College & Undergraduate Admissions Goals

17. Contributions so far Clark Foundation -- $16,125,000 Carnegie Academic Leadership Award - $500,000 Four alumni - ~$700,000 PSEG, ADP, AT&T, Lockheed Martin - ~$280,000