STEM Starter Academy

QCC student presentations at the Undergraduate Research Conference at UMASS Amherst
For more photos, visit the album

STEM Starter Academy (SSA) is a is a state-funded initiative to support community college efforts at all fifteen campuses to inform, engage, recruit, retain, and graduate significantly more students in STEM. The primary goal is to graduate more community students with STEM degrees and certificates so they can either enter the work force or transfer to a four-year institution. The secondary goal is to recruit more students into the STEM pipeline at the community colleges.  At QCC the STEM Starter Academy works in a cross functional capacity with many programs on campus to increase STEM awareness, retention, enrollment and completion and these goals are best served if the entire QCC Campus is engaged.  QCC’s strategy for STEM Starter Academy is embedding resources into areas of the campus that inform, enroll, retain, and see students through to completion.

STEM Starter Academy at QCC - 2018-2019

• STEM-focused recruitment strategies emphasizing the exciting opportunities in engineering, technology, computing & information technology, sciences & math.
• STEM-focused campus visits and events for prospective students, guidance counselors, teachers, families and community-based career counselors.
• STEM College & Exploration Day: Spring  - March 20, 2019. High school junior & seniors experience a variety of STEM workshops on campus. 
• Adult Ed STEM Day: March 21.  Chemistry and Biology Workshops.
• Careers for Women in Biotech; A Panel Discussion. Sanofi-Genzyme Company. October 4
• Manufacturing Day on October 19
• STEM Week October 22-26
• STEM field trips: 
  • Long Horn Beetle Tour with Anita Sorracco (Environmental Science Professor) October 18
  • AbbVie Company Tour with the Mentoring students: February 26
  • Wakefly Company Tour with the Mentoring students: March 7
  • IPG Company Tour: April 10
  • Fitchburg State University Tour: April 18
  • Undergraduate Research Conference at UMASS Amherst & Campus Tour: April 26, 2019
  • Other trips TBA
• Academic STEM & Career advising to guide students in choosing the right career and academic pathway.
• College & Career Fairs.
• Summer Bridge Readiness Program: FREE MAT100 Course with College Readiness Workshops. July through August
• Early College STEM Starter Summer Academy: July 8-12 and July 15-19
• Student STEM Research Projects. Students presenting at the Undergraduate Research Conference at UMASS Amherst on April 26, 2019.
• STEM Tutoring in the GAA Tutor Center: Biology, Calculus, Chemistry & Physics, Science and CAD tutoring in the Quest Center, room 114
• QCC Mentoring Program with Gabe Santer: gsantner [at] qcc.mass.edu