Colleges, labs develop STEM core curriculum

“We want to increase the number of people who are finding employment opportunities through STEM programs,” said John Colborn, director of the Aspen Institute’s Skills for America’s Future, who facilitated the STEM consortium’s meeting. “We want to know that employers who are hiring those people are finding them as good or better than the folks they are able to get through ordinary means. And that these pools of candidates are more diverse and able to contribute to the diverse workforce that the labs are looking for.”

The consortium outlined a STEM educational standard that consisted of math up to pre-calculus (twelve to fifteen units), basic computer programing (three to four units), tech English (three to four units), and engineering/career application (two units). The basic math classes include algebra, trigonometry and geometry; while the tech English includes giving presentations in technical terminology. The engineering/career application is an introductory course to the different types of engineering. The STEM curriculum program can lead to an associate’s degree or prepare students for the transition to a four-year college. Along the way, students will have opportunities to apply for internships at national labs that can lead to full-time positions.

McCormick said the next steps are to support or expand program implementation at the eight community colleges that attended the consortium meeting: Las Positas, Canada, Ohlone, San Jose Evergreen, San Jose City College, Saddleback, Palomar, and Santa Ana College.  

Most schools will need to reorganize classes for the STEM program, including some class modification, and potentially create new classes based on employers’ needs in order to receive state and local funding, she said.  Funds for internships are available for veterans and displaced workers through local workforce investment boards. Employers may be asked to commit to hiring the student interns.

The statewide collaboration on STEM education, McCormick said, will allow the consortium to apply for educational grants such as those from the Helmsley Charitable Trust with more than $5 billion in assets, to support wide-ranging endeavors including the advancement of education. The trust prefers donating to causes that have a far-reaching impact.

The consortium plans to launch an extended pilot program in the fall of 2015 with the new STEM core curriculum.

“If successful, the STEM core curriculum program will provide Lawrence Livermore and other California employers with technicians in biotech, optics, computer sciences and other areas,” McCormick said. “LLNL’s Engineering Directorate plans to hire 200 to 300 technicians in the next five years.”

LLNL’s Computation Directorate, in collaboration with the Lab’s chief information officer and Information Communication Services, are planning to launch a similar core curriculum program at Las Positas College in information technology and computer science in 2015.