Ithaca College students participating in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) participated in the 18th Annual STEP Statewide Student Conference held on March 18-20th at the Albany Marriott in Albany, NY. Ithaca College students participating in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) participated in the 18th Annual STEP Statewide Student Conference held on March 18-20th at the Albany Marriott in Albany, NY.
The Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) increases the number of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students in grades 7-12 prepared to enter college, and improve their participation rate in mathematics, science, technology, health related fields and the licensed professions. STEP provides academic enrichment in science and mathematics content areas.
The annual conference for the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) brought together over 275 STEP participants from grades 7-12 and over 50 STEP programs including numerous staff, administrators, faculty, alumni, chaperons, and CSTEP participants. This year’s conference theme, “STEP into the Future through STEM” provided opportunities for STEP students to offer a robotics exhibition and research poster presentations based in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Specifically, CSTEP students and others were afforded opportunities to provide critical feedback, encouragement and, most of all, mentoring to STEP students during their robotics exhibition and during the research poster competition which represented areas in the biological life sciences, physical sciences, human services, social sciences, and technology.
The STEP Conference was hosted by the New York State Education Department and Syracuse University. This 3-day conference consisted of a college fair, a STEP student ambassador program, academic and student development workshop presentations for STEP participants, professional development for STEP program administrators, a keynote speaker, and many wonderful networking opportunities, in addition to other conference activities which facilitated meaningful engagement with STEP students. Participating in the conference with both the Ithaca College CSTEP director and CSTEP coordinator/counselor were the following CSTEP students: Chidi Anyata ’19, Ngawang Chime ’18, Allan Bowen ’17 and Darlene Rodriguez ’17 who is also a CSTEP Peer Mentor.
The Ithaca College CSTEP program partners with many STEP programs to introduce middle and high school students early to the college admission process, academic expectations for pursuing STEM fields, campus life and student engagement, conversations with current CSTEP students about opportunities for enrolling in STEM majors at Ithaca College, and discussions about creating innovative pathways to careers and licensure in STEM.
The Ithaca College Office of State Grants (OSG) provides oversight for CSTEP. OSG is structured under the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Educational Affairs. OSG directly reports to the Associate Provost for Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20160324080708341