Join a Vibrant Network of Precollege STEM Programs

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The Future Needs a PUSH

The STEM Pathways for Underrepresented Students to Higher Education (PUSH) Network, an NSF INCLUDES Alliance, seeks to leverage the power of precollege STEM programs (PCSPs) to broaden participation of racially/ethnically minoritized students – Black, Latinx and/or Indigenous students – in STEM and, together with its partners, create systemic change in higher education admissions.

Join us to amplify the power of PCSPs and reinvent the relationship between PCSPs and higher education admissions offices!

The STEM PUSH Network, an NSF INCLUDES Alliance, seeks partners in advancing equity in STEM

STEM PUSH integrates a powerful engine for learning and innovation – a networked improvement community (NIC) – with an accreditation component to give PCSPs greater currency in the higher education admissions process. Partners in STEM PUSH benefit from:

PCSP Recruitment Graphic

Does Your Precollege STEM Program Meet the Criteria?

  • Engages urban high school students in rigorous, STEM-centric curricula

  • In-depth engagement in an out-of-school space (~120 student hours/year).

  • Explicitly works to improve STEM-college going outcomes for Black, Latinx and/or Indigenous students

    • Program leaders acknowledge that structural racism exists in K-12+ STEM pathways

    • Program interested in focusing on equity

  • Ability to actively participate in the networked improvement community

    • Dedicated program leader who will attend network meetings (monthly virtual + 2 in-person/year)

    • Engage in improvement cycles including meetings and learning tasks throughout the year (~40 hours/year)

    • Agency to make changes to strengthen the program/align with STEM PUSH quality standards (recruitment, program design, assessment, etc.)

    • Share student data

  • Supports students in developing knowledge and skills via hands-on, experiential opportunities for learning (e.g., research-based, engineering projects, math intensive)

  • Exposes young people to STEM professionals, career pathways, and/or college experiences

  • Established for at least three years

Learn More
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STEM PUSH is looking for established, urban-based, STEM-focused PCSPs with a significant “do” component that work with high school students and are committed to increasing equity in STEM undergraduate study.
Apply Today