Center for STEM Education and Outreach

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The JMU STEM Center Banner

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The Center for STEM Education and Outreach is a vehicle to coordinate and connect activities across our campus with partners in K-12 schools and others interested in STEM.

James Madison University
Established: 2007

http://www.jmu.edu/stemcenter/index.shtml

Vision and Goals

The Center for STEM Education and Outreach, the Center, serves as the point of contact for STEM outreach programs and resources available at James Madison University, JMU. We offer on and off-campus opportunities for students, parents, and educators designed to increase literacy and improve STEM education. We work with students, teachers, parents, policymakers and the general public by supporting high quality curriculum and professional development and sharing the many resources of JMU faculty, staff, and students with schools across Virginia. We serve as a point of collaboration and connection for faculty and staff on campus and we collaborate with internal and external partners on sponsored projects to improve STEM learning and teaching.

Center/Program Structure

Currently, the Center is run by three Co-Directors. One from the College of Integrated Science & Engineering - CISE, one from the College of Science and Mathematics - CSM and one from the College of Education - CoE. Each director is given a .25 course buy-out each semester, the FTE would be .75. The Co-Directors report to the Provost through the Advisory Dean's Council (the Deans of CISE, CSM & CoE). The center has two part-time administrative assistants.

We have two additional groups that are part of the Center. First, we have an external group of K-12 teachers and administrators that we meet with regularly to understand their STEM needs and to share STEM opportunities. Second, we have a group of STEM faculty, staff and students within James Madison University that we assist with STEM projects, including matching JMU projects with local school divisions.

Description of Programming

The Center for STEM Education and Outreach at James Madison University has been most successful as acting as a conduit between the University and the surrounding K-12 school districts. We have been successful in matching professors with a desire to impact K-12 students with the local schools and students. Hundreds, if not thousands, of students have come to campus for a wide variety of programs to enhance their STEM learning. In addition, we have worked with extensively with six to eight local school districts to advise their STEM programs. This includes sitting on the advisory board of one local school district that established a within school STEM Academy.

Successes and Impacts

Two of the biggest successes have to date have been in stipend program for JMU faculty members and providing seed grants to K-12 projects with JMU faculty and or staff support. The stipend program provided JMU faculty members with small amounts of funding during the summer to create summer working groups. These working groups have produced a variety of products including successful grant proposals. The seed grants for K-12 projects have produced such programs that have led to a STEM focused after school program, field research activities for K-12 students, and experiential in-class activities.

Elements Contributing to Success

Our Center has benefitted by having the support of the Provost's office and having co-Director's from each of the Colleges that contain a majority of the STEM programs on campus.

Additionally, we have benefitted from being able to establish excellent working relationships with the local school districts. These relationships have been able to benefit both JMU and the school partners.