PV STEMNET MEETING MAY 4, 2007 Holyoke Community College

Agenda I.Introductions II.PV STEMNET Program Background And Current Projects III.PV STEMNET Organizational Structure A.Steering Committee 1.Structure 2.Make up of Membership 3.Challenge and Charge B.Advisory Board IV. Next Steps

The Pioneer Valley PreK-16 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)Education Regional Network "The purpose of the Pipeline Fund is “to increase the number of Massachusetts students who participate in programs that support careers in fields related to mathematics, science, technology, and engineering…to increase the number of qualified mathematics, technology, engineering and science teachers in the Commonwealth and to improve the mathematics, technology, engineering and science educational offerings available in public and private schools.” [Chapter 141 of the Acts of 2003, Section 13, paragraph (c)] The PV STEMNET is a network of schools, institutions of higher education, other formal and informal educational organizations, and industry. It was established with funding from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education with the following purpose:

History of the Network Spring Initial Network development, development of Phase I proposal Summer Development of Phase II proposal Fall Summer PV STEMNET Funded by BHE to do the following: Engineering pathways mapping project Engineering/technology career fairs (HCC and STCC) Summer camps (Smith College, Springfield College, HCC) Saturday Explorations in Science and Engineering (WNEC) Engineering Institutes for K12 Teachers (Smith College and Westfield State/HEC) Academic year seminars for teachers (STEM Ed Institute, UMass) Summer and Fall Teachers Implementing Imaging and Imagery for Classroom Learning (TI 3 CL) [Funded by CITI] Winter TI 3 CL Continuation [Funded by CITI]

ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY, STATISTICS, DISCRETE MATH, TRIGONOMETRY, and CALCULUS for Grades 4-8 Teachers (funded by MA DOE) History of the Network : Math MMSP

School Partners (Math MMSP) Holyoke Hampden-Wilbraham Gateway Regional SD Westfield Palmer Greenfield Gill-Montague Easthampton Diocese of Springfield Chicopee Amherst Springfield Public Schools

UMass Amherst Westfield State GCC HCC STCC Springfield College Higher Ed Partners (Math MMSP

History of the Network (funded by MA DOE) : Science & Math MMSP

Franklin County Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Research Academies for Young Scientists A collaboration of the following organized by PV STEMNET: National Science Foundation UMass –STEM Education Institute –School of Education Greenfield Community College Franklin County business and nonprofit partners History of the Network STEM RAYS

What’s Special About STEM RAYS? Connects Franklin County students and teachers with ongoing interdisciplinary environmental research programs Interactions with scientists, engineers, and college and graduate students from UMass, GCC, and Smith College; partners Students do experiments, collect and analyze data relevant to these environmental research efforts Field trips, annual research conference at UMass It is a research study of the effects of teachers’ and students’ participation in legitimate scientific research. History of the Network

Features of Student Programs Weekly 2 hour after school programs, grades week summer programs, grades students per school ~8 elementary and 2 middle schools in January 2007 pilot ~18 elementary and 6 middle schools in full program, Sept. 07 – Dec. 09 History of the Network

Current BHE Grant Fall 2006: PV STEMNET holds 4 meetings to develop proposal January 2007: PV STEMNET receives funding letter from BHE May 2007: Network receives contract from BHE

Other projects developed with PV STEMNET HCC/UMass Robotics for Girls Upward Bound Proposal (Baystate & UMass) Others?

Current BHE Grant Objectives: 1.Increase the number of Massachusetts students who prepare for and enter STEM careers; 2.Increase the number of qualified STEM teachers in the Commonwealth; 3.Improve the STEM educational offerings; and 4.Build the capacity of the regional network.

Current BHE Grant Funded projects: Emerging Scientists and Mathematician summer camps (Springfield College, HCC, AIC) Biotechnology Summer Camp for Girls (Gateways Regional Schools) STEM Mentor Training (WSC) Engineering is Elementary (Holyoke Public Schools) STEM Multimedia workshops (WGBY) Network Building and Coordination (UMass)

Current BHE Grant Timeline

Project Management PV STEMNET Advisory Board Projects Pioneer Valley STEM Stakeholders Role: Represent all stakeholders; Approve Strategy; Evaluate / disseminate results of projects; Provide technical assistance; Promote new STEM policies. Role: Planning and organizing all activities; Administrative and management resource to the Committee and the Council; Support implementation of projects; Organize Summits (?) and coordinate fund- raising. UMass Amherst Administration Role: Execute specific project related to STEM. PV STEMNET Steering Committee Role: Represent broad stakeholders’ priorities; Provide oversight and Resource for projects, Develop Strategy.

Steering Committee 1.Structure 2.Make up of Membership 3.Challenge and Charge

Purpose of the Steering Committee The primary function of the PV STEMNET Steering Committee is to represent all stakeholders and take responsibility for the achievement of outcomes of the program The Steering Committee will provide for: –Diverse representation in the Network’s leadership –Participatory management among K-12, higher education and employers –Collaborative decision-making process along shared priorities –Multi-year vision for the role of the network in the region through the development of a Network Strategic Plan, and –Sustainability/institutionalization of the network upon conclusion of BHE funding

Proposed Steering Committee Structure

Proposed Steering Committee Membership

Steering Committee Tasks Monitor and review of the program (STEM educational contents, schedule and budget) at regular Steering Committee meetings Provide assistance to the educational projects when required Adapt and modify program and educational projects as emergent issues force changes, ensuring that scope is aligned with the BHE requirements and objectives of key stakeholder groups Agree on regional priorities for STEM education and establish long term strategic plans Accept and approve program deliverables Grow the network and look for additional funding opportunities Others?

Advisory Board 1.Structure 2.Make up of Membership 3.Challenge and Charge

Evaluation Projects Network and Regional Stakeholders Phase 1Phase 2, 3…Phase n State/BHE Eval Plan Follow State Framework Ongoing Evaluation Pre- Survey/ Test Eval Report Project Plan Steering Committee- Network Monitoring, outreach, etc Network Approval Final Report Post- Survey/ Test Program Monitoring and Cross Region Information Sharing (Summits) Strategic Plan Sustainability Pipeline Program Eval State Imp? Scale- Up? Projects Implementation Awards Regional Needs Year 2 Reports Year 1 Reports Advisory Board (Semester) Roadmap for PV STEMNET Program

Next steps?