Initial Publication Date: September 22, 2016
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Prepare Students for Career Success

One of the most powerful advertisements for drawing students into STEM disciplines is demonstrating that there are opportunities for high-paying, prestigious career opportunities available. But once those opportunities have been communicated and students have chosen a STEM major, care must be given to prepare them to be successful after they finish their degree.

Facilitate Real-world Experiences

Students must gain experience in applying the knowledge and skills to complex, real world challenges. Internships and research opportunities provide students with the opportunity to do the work of their discipline and gain an understanding of what it is like to be a professional in STEM.

Encourage internships and other pre-professional opportunities
Engage Students in Research
Develop students' inquiry skills
Integrate research into teaching practice
Provide research experiences for 2YC Students.
Have students measure and investigate

Teach Specific Workforce Skills

There are specific skills and knowledge that will make students more marketable in some fields. Giving them a chance to develop that skill base will give them a leg up if they want to go into relevant disciplines.

Integrate professional preparation into your program
Teach GIS and remote sensing
Teach with data, simulations, and models using MATLAB
Teaching with models
Teach parallel computing

Focus on Local Issues

Many students from underrepresented minority backgrounds need or want to stay local because of family connections. Providing them with experiences that draw on local needs and conditions can them be successful staying close to home.

Prepare students for local jobs
Explore local issues using case studies
Integrate a sense of place into the STEM curriculum
Connect to the world outside the classroom
Foster an ethic of place
Raise awareness of local hazards, vulnerability, and risk
Teach with Connect nearby examples to global challenges

Develop Networking Opportunities

All students need practice with the skills of developing a professional network and being able to demonstrate their value in such situations. Students from backgrounds lacking in family or role models who were involved in STEM disciplines may be even more in need of these opportunities.

Build a network of alumni, employers, and career center staff
Practice with professional communication skills will benefit students no matter their path
Provide opportunities for students to present their work on campus or beyond

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