Workforce Development

CCMR’s  “WE-STEM”

Workforce Expansion through STEM Education

In May 2022, the CCMR Educational Outreach Programs and CCMR Industrial Programs Office joined forces on a grant from New York State Office of Science, Technology, and Academic Research (NYSTAR).

This new program seeks to develop the workforce of tomorrow by preparing high school students for high-tech manufacturing positions and brings together the Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology and the Windsor, Binghamton City, and Oxford School Districts.

The objective of WE-STEM will be achieved through four efforts: development of educational materials that integrate knowledge of STEM careers; professional development for teachers; strong diversity focus; and long-term impact assessment.

• Cornell faculty, post-doctorates, and graduate students will work with high school teachers and industry professionals to develop a curriculum that prepares students for high-tech manufacturing positions and/or higher education and is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

• WE-STEM teams will design and present professional development workshops that support a course of study with embedded manufacturing and technology experiences. Workshops organized by the CCMR will provide New York State Continuing Teacher Education credit.

• This program will attempt to close the college and career readiness gap by offering diverse students opportunities to build their interest, skills, and understanding of the career paths. For example, the Binghamton City School District, one of our partners, is among NY State’s highest-need districts with 33% of city residents living in poverty, which is more than twice the statewide average (2020 Census data). The district’s overall free and reduced lunch rate is currently 79% and the underrepresented groups are 43%.

• The CCMR is partnering with Rockman Evaluation Co-op to conduct an independent assessment of the long-term verifiable impacts of the WE-STEM collaborative project.