Diversity in STEM Degree Completion Initiative the Committee

Diversity in STEM Degree Completion Initiative & the Committee for the Advancement of Science, Technology, Innovation, & Math (CASTEM)

How do students benefit from the Diversity in STEM Degree Completion Initiative? • Simply, the Diversity in STEM Degree Completion Initiative provides the facility and resources for students in the Center of STEM Research, Education, and Outreach in SLW. • We present workshops, mentoring programs, career panels, networking events, resume clinics, and paid opportunities to enhance recruitment and promote STEM degree retention and completion for underrepresented students. • The Initiative builds a diverse & inclusive environment for students to engage in STEM learning, innovation, and mentoring. It also awards outstanding student leadership, research experience, and high-impact community engagement. • Our learning facilities and ideation centers supply students with community-based learning materials, computers, and hands-on activities. We recruit new members through our rigorous STEM learning experiences.

The framework for the CASTEM Strategies and Goals: everything we do is built on top of this paper

Mentoring • CASTEM supports intervention programs to increase interest and sustain persistence in STEM fields • Mentors play an essential role as psychosocial support for first-year students, especially underrepresented students. They will aid in the adjustment, persistence of STEM field completion, and progress of students into graduate programs and careers • The program seeks to produce higher GPAs, lower non-STEM switching, increased self-efficacy, and better-defined academic goals • Educate cross-racial mentors to understand their own prejudices and attitudes towards race; their organization's diversity efforts, discrimination policies, and professional and social networks

Research Experience & Creative Activities • CASTEM fosters a campus climate for diversity and excellence that promotes research with faculty members. • CASTEM supports engaging in hands-on research for students in academic settings (i. e. URCA programs) to increase the number who pursue degrees and careers in STEM fields. • CASTEM rewards students engaging in hands-on research experience with faculty with stipends, as this one of their most important academic experiences • CASTEM Ideation and Innovation Center motivates first-year students wanting to know if science, engineering, or research is appropriate for them

Ideation Center of SIUE “For Knowledge, Excellence, & Sustainability”

CASTEM & the Diversity in STEM Degree Completion Initiative Future voyages to Mars require an abundance of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

CASTEM provides STEM workshops for High-impact Community Engagement • CASTEM designs STEM workshops to enhance recruitment for student of underrepresented groups for undergraduate programs, improving retention and graduation rates for SIUE. • The projects are designed to build a community that fosters learning, scholarship, and creative activities that reflect global and communitybased issues concerning the STEM community (i. e. climate change, clean water, renewable energy, geoscience, missions to Mars, etc. ). • Each workshop addresses real-world issues, celebrates diversity and inclusion, and the interdisciplinary ecosystem of STEM. • Students lead the discussion on careers in STEM relevant to the interests of their community.

CAREERS IN STEM

ELEGOO UNO R 3 Kit Provides 22 different projects related to robotic, circuitry, sound, and optics. • Reuseable BIORAD® Biofuel Enzyme Kit Guides instruction on enzyme kinetics and biofuel energy sources; contains no caustic reagents; enables both qualitative and quantitative measurements of reactions • One 45 min laboratory activity • Provides sufficient materials for eight student workstations, up to four students per workstation

Solar Energy Meets Blockchain Technology

How can the Dean of CAS support the goals of CASTEM? 1. Promote the CASTEM facilities and student leadership to incoming freshman and guests during Welcome SIUE! Events, Springboard, visitation days, etc. 2. Leverage the CASTEM programs and existing programs to boost STEM enrollment and degree completion for students of color. 3. Feature CASTEM reports, workshops, mentoring programs, career panels, networking events, and paid opportunities each semester in Dean’s Report, Research & Creative Activities, Diversity and Inclusion: Strategic Plan, Educational Outreach, e-Connect. 4. Support funding and resources for future CASTEM projects and secure partnerships with government and corporations. 5. Promote CASTEM activities at the SIUE St. Louis Charter School and Chicago Public Schools.

Innovation for Today. Innovation for the Future.