1. Are You Engaging STEM Students Outside of the Classroom?
Valerie Cope and Kinga Oliver
Sinclair Community College
November 2016

2. Do you know if your college has…
Advisors who specialize in STEM fields?
Extra learning support for STEM subjects?
Student clubs and activities that promote learning and interaction with like-minded people?
Alternate methods for students to explore careers?
An internship/co-op department or coordinator?

3. Are you aware of the
student experience
from entry to exit?

4. What was Sinclair experiencing?
Uncoordinated efforts
Exploring careers too late
No standardization in career coaching
Lack of awareness of available tools and resources
Students overwhelmed by Sinclair’s size
Uncoordinated efforts - Although faculty, advisors and staff were all working on DEGREE COMPLETION, efforts weren’t coordinated
No standardization –students are getting career coaching that is all over the board
Students waited too long to explore careers
Lack of awareness of what tools are available for faculty and students
There is no one taking ownership and leading the process
Students were overwhelmed by Sinclair’s size

5. Career Communities Connect students to an advising specialist
Increase students’ understanding of resources
Involve students with peers who share similar interests
Engage students, faculty and employers in their career areas

6. 2016 - 2017 Career Communities Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Business
Public Safety and Justice
Health Sciences
Creative Arts
STEM

7. STEM: Steering Committee
Coordinator
Advisors
Faculty
Financial Aid Rep
Student Services Rep
Librarian
Registration/Enrollment Rep
Multi-functional Steering Committees
connected faculty, advisors and staff members
“I used to send students to the few advisors I trusted; now I know they’re all good”
“Now I have a go-to person in Financial Aid when a student has a problem”
“Librarians can find anything!”

9. Targeting High School Students
Engineers Day
WiSTEM
Annual H.S. College and Career Fair

12. STEM: Extra Learning Support
Drop-in Tutoring for STEM subjects
Tutorial Services (assigned tutors)
MAT 1470 (College Algebra) Lounge
Calculus Group Study
Sinclair Talks:
How to Succeed in Calculus
How to Succeed in a Science Course

14. STEM: MATH Student Clubs and Activities
Math Problem of the Week
Colloquiums
AMATYC Math Team and Contest

18. AMATYC CONTEST
LOCAL AWARDS

19. STEM: Advising Assigned
Aware of curriculum changes and Ohio Transfer Module
Career advising
Direct students to upcoming events in their field

20. STEM: Career Exploration
How to Choose a College Major Wednesday, August 31, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
This session will focus on learning about degree options at Sinclair and include an interactive activity on how to make the right major choice for you. Presented by Felix Torres and sponsored by Career Communities.
Career Resources Monday, September 26, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm  
This session will focus on researching your career and understanding the resources available to make the jump from college to the workforce. Presented by Felix Torres and sponsored by Career Communities.
Preparing for Your Career Prior to Graduation Tuesday, Oct. 18, 11:00 am – 12 pm
The goal of the session is to discuss what it means to get the experience you need for employment after graduation, exploring professional development opportunities, how to connect with opportunities to ensure your chosen career is the right “fit”, and preparing for internships. Sponsored by Student & Community Engagement and Career Communities.

21. STEM: Career Exploration
Sinclair Talks:
Engineering vs Engineering Tech
Engineering Transfer Scholarships
What is Actuarial Science?
Engineering Transfer Fair
Engineering Tech Open House
CIS Showcase

25. STEM: Career Connection Objectives
ONLINE VIRTUAL CAREER CENTER
career/transfer pathway tool
centrally house career resources
easy accessible platform
connects faculty, staff and students
Create an ONLINE VIRTUAL CAREER CENTER to communicate a clear career and transfer pathway for Sinclair students.
Centrally house career resources, and connect faculty, staff, and students to tools and resources in an accessible, online platform.

26. STEM: Career Connection
Location: under Graduation/Career or careerconnection.sinclair.edu
Career resources

28. START HERE

29. I’m not really sure what career or program I want. What do I do?

30. I know my career goal and program. What’s next?

31. How can I get experience while studying at Sinclair?

32. I want to get a job or transfer

33. Explore – stage.

34. Informal Interviews (about 60) with Professionals in the Field

35. Videos of Professionals in the Field Answering the Following Questions-

36. Videos of employees from STEM field, in different professions, answering the 4 questions

38. STEM: Internships
Student Progress Report - where students are in the academic pipeline
Most Sinclair students have to work and go to school, our goal is to get them better aligned with an opportunity that supports them going to school and where they are adding value to company.
Wage range for SME students are typically higher than other divisions - $12 to $19 an hour for internships.
Sinclair students tend to stay local, and more local companies are seeking students who have technical experience. 
The SME Internship office advises companies how to launch internships, change internal hiring practices, and grow awareness of all SME academic programs to open up additional internship opportunities.

42. What is your school doing to engage students in STEM?

43. What can you do to promote and connect your students to a career in STEM?

44. Contact Information
Valerie Cope Assistant Professor, Mathematics Sinclair Community College Kinga Oliver Associate Professor, Mathematics