LMW STEM Initiative

1. LMW STEM Initiative Dr. John W. Long Mr. Raybon Myers Mr. Nathan Williams Principals

2. Rational For the Initiative Unaddressed needs of African American students Aspiration: • The lack of individuals who look like them in STEM • The lack of nurturing and support in the schools • Hostile community environment

3. Rational For the Initiative • Undeveloped quantitative skills • Undeveloped scientific literacy skills • Undeveloped literacy skills, i.e., thinking and writing • Lacking exposure to international experiences • Lack of a comprehensive approach to STEM preparation

4. The LMW Group • The LMW Group, an African American, non-for-profit organization, that acknowledges the lack of human and capital development within the communities we serve. The products offered by LMW provide an additional aid to our clientele in reaching their audience, increasing of target market share, and retention of target market share. The LMW Group provides technical expertise in the writing of proposals, the creation of marketing materials, and educational in-service activities.

5. What is the STEM Initiative • A center where junior and high school and university students work hand-in-hand with their peers, teachers, mentors, community partners, and STEM professionals in residence within a school/university setting and encouraged to use interdisciplinary methodologies to solve local and global community-based problems.

6. Programmatic Focus • Quantitative: Each junior and high school student will be exposed to mathematics, primarily algebra (junior high) and pre-calculus, and science within a STEM framework; composition that focuses on writing composition, aiming toward college level preparation; and German instruction to increase quantitative skills and help students become global citizens.

7. Programmatic Focus • STEM exploration: The student-scholars will be engaged in a rigorous, stimulating, and informative STEM related supplemental courses and activities that will strengthen the student/scholars academic skills and expose them to integrated math/science/STEM projects that are problem solving and inquiry based. Pre-engineering will be the primary STEM activity.

8. Programmatic Focus • Aspiration: Education is meaningless without opportunities and aspiration. . Negative perspective, the lack of opportunities, living in at-risk areas and the lack of self confidence are barriers in realizing what they can dream of being in this society. There will be mentors and mentoring activities on a regular basis that will connect the student-scholars with STEM, along with nurturing them. High school students will have opportunity to study in German

9. Junior High Program • The junior high school segment focuses on quantitative skill development and STEM exploration within an aspiration framework. The proposed program will be developed within an institutional framework that consist of Saturday and Summer Academies. Integrated into each academy will be a quantitative, literacy, foreign language, STEM exploration, and an aspiration component. Emphasis will placed on the teaching of algebra, the gateway course to science and mathematics related study, study skills that produce critical thinkers, and foreign language that focuses on quantitative skills development and globalization, and mentoring to connect the students to those who come from similar backgrounds.

10. Pre-collegiate Program • The focus of the high school program is college preparation (quantitative and literacy skills), STEM exploration (pre-engineeering) and mentoring, and international awareness. The keys of the academic program are high academic achievement in mathematics, literacy, and science. In addition to the academic and summer programs, the high school students will have opportunity to study in German.

11. The Collegiate Program • The collegiate program will have an international framework. Students earn two baccalaureate degrees simultaneously, one in engineering and one in German. Students spend a semester interning abroad followed by a paid internship abroad. This program uses the University of Rhode Island international engineering program. To insure college readiness, students enroll in a six-week summer program prior to enrollment that concentrates on strengthening academic performance and exposure to university life. During the academic year, students will be involved in a mentoring program oriented to the needs of African American students.

12. Major Objectives • Creation of innovative courses in mathematics, literacy, foreign language, and STEM • Development of Saturday and summer programs • Creation of an African-centered study abroad program • Increasing the number of junior high school African Americans prepared to succeed in STEM related courses and foreign languages • Increasing the number of African Americans prepared to enter engineering programs in higher education • Development of mentor programs that are nurturing and empowering

13. Expected Outcomes • Establishing a comprehensive STEM Program • Increasing the number of African American students prepared to enter engineering programs or other STEM program • Addressing the unmet needs of African Americans in the preparation of entering the STEM field • Establishing a model for schools to use to assist African Americans

14. Potential Partners • The College of Education (course development and graduate assistants) • The Germanic Department ( graduate assistance and course development • The Goethe Institute ( The Republic of Germany cultural institute • The American Association of German Teachers AlleLernen Deutsch (minority affairs) Committee • The College of Engineering ( Minority Affairs)