THE INSTITUTE FOR SUPPORTING PATHWAYS AND RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE IN STEM
(SPARK STEM Institute)
Please find below a summary. For more information, visit the SPARK STEM Institute website here.
Mission
The mission of the Institute for Supporting Pathways and Research Knowledge in STEM (SPARK STEM Institute) is to engage science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers and faculty, social science researchers, K-12 and Higher Education administrators, and the community to create and evaluate innovative research-based models for improving student academic and social experiences to attract, retain, and graduate more students in STEM disciplines.
Goals
1. Establish a researcher-practitioner-community partnership to foster research-based technical assistance in schools in the Greater Alabama Black Belt Region.
2. Study the barriers and issues faced by schools and develop sustainable solutions to prepare students for college and STEM workforce.
3. Study the barriers and issues faced by students and examine the feasibility of supplemental instruction and academic year programs, and tailor interventions to improve their college readiness, especially in English, mathematics, and science.
4. Engage educators (teachers and professors) from STEM-related fields to improve student academic and social experiences to attract, retain, and graduate more students in STEM disciplines across the PreK-20 pathway.
5. Engage STEM faculty to create and evaluate innovative research-based models for improving academic performance and social integration of historically underrepresented populations in STEM disciplines.
6. Serve as a hub for the incubation, development, and implementation of ideas for complex grant proposals and major STEM pathways and workforce development projects and initiatives and their institutionalization.
7. Facilitate collaboration among schools, colleges, universities, governments, and industry to create a seamless STEM pathway to STEM workforce and research opportunities globally.
8. Provide summer professional development opportunities for PreK-12 teachers of STEM-related fields and administrators for partner schools.
9. Provide opportunities for STEM projects to demonstrate “broader impact” by providing connections to the broader community.
10. Evaluate and disseminate SPARK STEM Institute interventions and their impact.
Collaborative Effort
The Institute for Supporting Pathways and Research Knowledge in STEM (SPARK STEM Institute), a division of the NextGen STEM Pathways Foundation, is a collaborative research and resource unit among academic institutions, nonprofits, national labs, foundations, government, industry, and the community. Others who are collaborating with the Foundation on grant projects may request affiliation with the Institute.
Purpose of the Institute
The purpose of the Institute is to design, implement, and manage projects, programs, and partnerships funded or supported by the Foundation that advance STEM education and career readiness from K–20 and into early career pathways locally, regionally, and globally. The Institute serves as a center for innovation, research, institutional and community engagement, and scalable program delivery.
Programs and Initiatives
GABBR STEM Alliance
TAPDINTO-STEM
The Mentoring Bridge Model
Scholarships, Fellowships, and Internships
Conferences, Graduate Fairs, and Special Projects and Initiatives
Impact of the Mentoring Bridge Model
The GABBR STEM Alliance is increasing the number of students that are persisting in STEM majors and completing associate and baccalaureate degrees. To date, 444 stipends have been awarded to 271 unique students as of Fall 2024. 155 had obtained STEM bachelor’s or associate degrees, and 73 were still enrolled in STEM disciplines.
The Making to Advance Knowledge, Excellence, and Recognition in STEM (MAKERS) model has promoted factors that increase persistence of low-income students in STEM through faculty and peer mentoring. Student retention amongst the 260 scholarship recipients recruited over 6 years is an impressive 82%. Moreover, an impressive 92% of the 170 program graduates have either joined the STEM workforce or are pursuing graduate studies in STEM disciplines.