CENTER FOR PROMOTING STEM

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CENTER FOR PROMOTING STEM

• Tingxiu Wang, Professor of Mathematics,
  tingxiu_at_oakton.eduJoe Kotowski, Professor of
  Engineering, koto_at_oakton.eduGloria Liu,
  Instructional Specialist, glorial_at_oakton.edu Bob
  Sompolski, Professor and Dean of Math and
  Technologies, somplski_at_oakton.edu
• Oakton Community College
• Des Plaines, IL
• http//servercc.oakton.edu/nsf-stem/

This material is based upon work supported by
the National Science Foundation grants,
DUE-0230682 and DUE-0622329.
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Our Mission

• Oakton Community College, in cooperation with the
  National Science Foundation, established the
  Center for Promoting STEM (CPS) to increase the
  number of students who pursue studies and receive
  postsecondary degrees in STEM disciplines.

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Objectives

• Maintain a supportive and rewarding environment
  to encourage, improve, and commend student
  success in STEM
• Design and provide activities to increase
  students interests in STEM
• Develop and offer programs to enhance students
  performance in STEM

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• Provide resources and engage faculty in
  activities for teaching excellence, scholarship,
  and leadership in academia
• Collaborate with professional organizations,
  business and high schools in Oaktons district
  for promoting and sustaining STEM activities

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• Expand and maintain a network or mechanism of
  smooth transition for Oakton STEM students to
  transfer to other institutions
• Study, investigate and incorporate innovative
  teaching ideas, techniques and pedagogies in the
  STEM fields into classrooms at community
  colleges

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• Disseminate successful results of CPS activities
• Contribute to the literature on teaching and
  learning through scholarly activities and program
  assessment.

Developing curiosity
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Approach to Promoting STEM
Making STEM tangible personal
College Readiness
Student
Experience
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Making STEM Tangible and Personal

• Student-Industry-Teacher Simulations (SIT-Sims)
• Study Sessions
• Peer Tutor Training Program

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College Readiness

• STEM Enrichment Program (College Success Course)
• Study Sessions
• Mentoring
• Peer Tutor Training Program

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Experience

• STEM Clubs
• STEM Success Seminars
• CEO, Scholar, and Expert Forum
• Worksite Internship
• Lab Assistant Training Program
• Peer Tutor Training Program

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Involvement Council of Industry and Academic
Advisors

• Faculty
• Industry
• High school teachers
• Faculty at four-year institutions

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Involvement Institutional Advisory
Committee

• Faculty
• Academic and career advising (advisors,
  counselors, and TRiO)
• Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Student Activities
• Tutoring
• Deans
• Vice President of Academic Affairs
• 184

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Involvement Other

• Office of Research
• Marketing
• Division Staff
• 184

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Contact Information

• Tingxiu Wang, Professor of Mathematics,
  tingxiu_at_oakton.edu
• Joe Kotowski, Professor of Engineering,
  koto_at_oakton.edu
• Gloria Liu, Instructional Specialist,
  glorial_at_oakton.edu
• Bob Sompolski, Professor and Dean of Math and
  Technologies, somplski_at_oakton.edu
• http//servercc.oakton.edu/nsf-stem/

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VISION Oakton Community College, in cooperation
with the National Science Foundation, established
the Center for Promoting STEM (CPS) to increase
the number of students who pursue studies and
receive postsecondary degrees in STEM
disciplines.

• WHO ARE INVOLVED
• High school students are involved in
• WYSE
• Tech Tracks
• Peer Tutor Training Program (PTTP)
• SIT SIMs
• STEM Enrichment Program (SEP)
• STEM Mentoring Program (SMP)
• Study Sessions Facilitators
• High school teachers are involved in
• SIT SIMs
• Council of Industry and Academic Advisors
• Oakton students are involved in
• STEM Clubs
• CEO, Scholar and Expert Forum
• STEM Success Seminars
• STEM Enrichment Program (SEP)
• Study Sessions
• STEM Mentoring Program (SMP)

• STEM Promotion
• STEM Education and Retention
• STEM Collaboration
• STEM Evaluation and Dissemination
• SOME RESULTS
• Peer Tutor Training and Student-Industry-Teacher
  Simulations won the Innovation Award of the
  Illinois Council of Community College
  Administrators in 2003 and 2005, respectively.
• SEP has achieved its objective of improving the
  math skills of STEM participants (Our external
  evaluator attested).
• Oaktons national standing in the AMATYC Math
  Competition has improved, from 87th in fall 2002
  to 28th in spring 2005.