STEM in The Community

SUNY and the New York Academy of Sciences were recently awarded a grant from NSF to scale up an afterschool mentoring program in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects. The program consists of SUNY graduate students and post doctoral fellows, who mentor middle school students in high need school districts.

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By participating in this program you will

• Improve your teaching skills.
• Increase middle schools' students' knowledge in STEM subjects.
• Have fun while making a difference in the community.

The program consists of the following

• Mentoring middle school students in the surrounding neighborhoods of Downstate.
• Mentor one afternoon, 60-90 minutes, once a week, during one semester (10-12 weeks).
• Teach one of three already developed curricula: Life Sciences, Forensics or Computer Programming.
• One full day of training in your chosen curriculum, at the New York Academy of Sciences.
• A three-credit, graduate level, online course in teaching and mentoring STEM, provided for free.
• Receive assistance and guidance throughout, from the STEM program coordinator, the science teachers of the middle schools, the after school staff and from your mentoring partner.

Dates, Deadlines, Application Form

• Spring Semester: Mentoring from the 1st week of March until the 3rd week of May.
  Application deadline: 1st week of February.
• Fall Semester: Mentoring from the 1st week of October until the 3rd week of December.
  Application deadline: 1st week of September.
• For specific dates and application form: http://www.nyas.org/landing/sunyafterschoolfaq.aspx

Credits, Bonuses, Certificate

• For Graduate School students: You will receive two credit hours towards your teaching requirement for every hour you mentor, since this activity is defined as "in-front-of-the-class teaching". Graduate School Teaching Activity form is here.
• For Public Health Students: MPH students may use this opportunity towards field experience hours. In addition, the three credits received upon completion of the free online course on educational methods, can be transferred into the MPH program.
• By participating and completing the STEM Mentoring Program, you will receive a Teaching Credential Certificate from the New York Academy of Sciences and SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.