STEM Inclusion Initiatives

These initiatives and programs represent CSL’s new strategic focus on building more inclusive STEM learning experiences for a more diverse student population.  

Partnerships, sponsors, and grants to support these initiatives and programs are sought both internally at CU and externally by CSL’s leadership and Fellows.  

This list is not static – it is intended to both describe the kinds of systemic and cultural changes needed in STEM learning cultures and to inspire collaborators to contribute to these efforts with CSL.

 

Student Participation Pathways Initiative

 

Grad Student Fellows Participation in CSL

  • STEM Student Inclusive Culture Construction Cohorts
  • Seeding cross-discipline culture growth aimed at enhancing student STEM-related experiences at CU and increasing students’ sense of belonging
  • Student ambassadors prepared to facilitate sessions
    • Informed by research, topics include bias recognition and mitigation, anti-racism, anti-sexism, and practices that recognize and value intersectionality (rather than penalize it)

 

Student PI program for STEM Inclusivity

  • Positioning and preparing grad and undergrads as project PIs (with faculty sponsor support) from proposal to completion
  • Emphasizing support for STEM projects that focus on Inclusive Culture Construction and/or integrate elements of DEI as a focus

 

Student Publication Program for STEM Inclusivity

  • Positioning grad and undergrads as primary and secondary authors in published papers, articles, podcasts and other communication formats. 
  • Emphasizing support for Inclusive STEM Culture Innovations and share student experience broadly

 

Vice Chancellor STEM Inclusivity Student Awards

  • Awarding and recognizing students for work in Inclusive STEM culture creation (research, campus in-reach, community outreach) 

 

Faculty Participation Pathways Initiative

 

STEM Faculty Inclusive Culture Construction Cohorts

  • Seeding cross-discipline culture growth aimed at enhancing faculty STEM-related experiences at CU and increasing faculty sense of belonging
  • Faculty ambassadors prepared to facilitate sessions
    • Informed by research, topics include bias recognition and mitigation, anti-racism, anti-sexism, and practices that recognize and value intersectionality (rather than penalize it), transfer to teaching practices

 

CSL STEM Evangelists 

  • CSL Fellows prepared as active representatives of CSL’s benefits and opportunities to other CU entities and colleagues
  • Focus on building more inclusive STEM cultures by engaging diverse range of people and partners
  • 3 Levels of outreach: Colleges, Institutions and Centers, Individual PIs
  • Positioning CSL as key partner for: broader impacts requirements on proposals, PI incentives for running grants through CSL, and DEI tools and resources

 

Vice Chancellor STEM Inclusivity Faculty Awards

  • Awarding and recognizing faculty for work in Inclusive STEM culture creation (research, teaching, campus in-reach, community outreach) 

 

Partnerships Initiative

 

Partnership with NSEC for capacity building at national level for STEM Inclusive Culture Construction 

  • To both use and contribute to their programs and resources for STEM learning innovations with a focus on inclusivity
  • Develop a theory of change model for strategic planning re: post-secondary inclusive STEM culture construction
  • Utilize collaborative action frameworks, including Collective Impact, Networked Improvement Communities, and Communities of Practice

 

Partnership with NCWIT for national community participation in computing

  • To both use and contribute to their programs and resources, specifically: the Academic Alliance, Extension Services for Higher Ed, Aspirations in Computing program, and the Tech Inclusion Journey

 

Corporate Nested Mentoring Program for STEM Inclusivity

  • Community outreach program based on pilot work with 3M company
  • Corp STEM professionals from marginalized groups mentor university students, who then mentor high-school students
  • Faculty participation and support at each step
  • Opportunities for multiple corporate partners