STEM Starter Academy

Asian Longhorn Beetle Tour with Professor Soracco's Environmental Science Class
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, 2018. High school junior & seniors experience a variety of STEM workshops on campus. 
• Careers for Women in Biotech; A Panel Discussion. Sanofi-Genzyme Company. October 4th
• Manufacturing Day on October 19th
• STEM Week October 22-26th
• STEM field trips: 
  • Long Horn Beetle Tour with Anita Sorracco (Environmental Science Professor) October 18th
  • 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
• 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

QuEST Center at QCC