Purpose and Responsibilities

Funded by the STEP grant of the National Science Foundation, the Center for Promoting STEM (CP-STEM) seeks primarily to create and maintain a supportive and rewarding environment to encourage, improve, and commend student success in STEM.

Purpose of Council of Industry and Academic Advisors

The purpose of the Council of Industry and Academic Advisors (CIAA) for the Center for Promoting STEM is to advise the project directors and help assess the needs, expectations, and satisfaction of the groups we seek to serve.

As a CIAA member, you will be asked to listen to CP-STEM progress updates and challenges and to provide feedback. Marketing and recruiting efforts will be discussed.

Composition

• Made up of people who are external to Oakton’s NSF STEP Grant and who have a mix of knowledge, skills and experience. Dr. Thomas Hamel, Vice President for Academic Affairs, will be chair with the Director serving as a co-chair.

Responsibilities

• Members will be expected to attend one 3-hour meeting once every spring semester between 2007 and 2010. Summaries from these meetings will be made public.
• Review project progress
• Advise on our project challenges
• Inform project directors about national trends in STEM
• Offer ideas, suggestions and comments on project implementation
• Write a letter of support for our future grant proposals
• Provide information on external funding
• Assist us building a national network and recognition
• Consult on issues such as: certificate requirements, industry needs assessment, etc.

Other

• Reimburse travel and lodging for those who living more than 60 miles away.

Other aspects of CP-STEM mission
• Design and provide activities to increase students’ interests in STEM;
• Develop and offer programs to enhance students’ performance in STEM;
• Provide resources and engage faculty in activities for teaching excellence, scholarship, and leadership in academia;
• Collaborate with professional organizations, business and high schools in Oakton’s district for promoting and sustaining STEM activities;
• Expand and maintain a network or mechanism for Oakton STEM students to transfer to other institutions smoothly;
• Study, investigate and incorporate innovative teaching ideas, techniques and pedagogies in the STEM fields into classrooms at community colleges;
• Disseminate successful results of CP-STEM activities;
• Contribute to the literature on teaching and learning through scholarly activities and program assessment.