Colorado State University STEM Center CSU STEM Center - Plans for Communicating our Vision

Laura Sample McMeeking, Colorado State University STEM Center

The Colorado State University STEM Center has been in existence for seven years. During that time, our directorship has primarily been on an interim basis, as we have sought to define and build the Center. We recognize that we have not been able to use many of the communication tools that could be effective, because of a sense of flux in our mission stemming from the grand initial vision as well as some logistical complications.

That said, we have been successful in communicating through networking--from the university administration level to the faculty and staff level. Our Director meets regularly with the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (who oversees the center) and select college deans to update them, communicate our needs, and brainstorm ways to communicate across campus. Our main connections to others across campus are through these deans and their associate deans for research. We also have been speaking with junior faculty about CAREER proposals through sessions organized by the Office of the Vice President for Research. These sessions have allowed us to describe our multi-faceted mission as well as how we can work with faculty and staff to improve their educational and outreach projects through evaluation and research or through connections we can make across campus. Networking has also been successful for building partnerships with individuals from other institutions and organizations.

This summer, we will branch out and meet with several other university organizations who are interested in implementing, researching, and/or evaluating STEM education and outreach to connect ourselves with the greater CSU community. Although we currently have a website, it does not allow us to accomplish our goal of connecting people (both within and outside CSU), and we are working this summer on designing a new one, slated to go live next Summer.