Metro State is an inaugural partner in a new consortium developed to stimulate interest in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
A partnership of Metro State, Colorado School of Mines, the Community College of Denver and the Cherry Creek School District, the Academy for the Development of STEM-related Careers (ADSC) is being developed to ensure that Colorado’s students, from kindergarten to the graduate-school level, are tapped in and connected to scientific and technology education. In addition, the ADSC is designed to position Colorado and the Denver metropolitan region as a leader in STEM education.
The ADSC was founded by Jeffrey Forrest, chair of Metro State’s Aviation and Aerospace Science Department, along with Burke Fort, director of the Colorado School of Mines’ 8th Continent Project. Forrest described the ADSC as a “community of intellectual capital and knowledge-sharing that will reach students of all ages to encourage innovation and creativity in the sciences, technology and entrepreneurship.”
Forrest says the ADSC is a “response to the needs of employers in the Denver Metro area and of government officials throughout the state to coordinate efforts that bolster education and interest in science, technology, engineering and math among students of all ages.”
The first area of focus of the ADSC will be aerospace. The ADSC intends to provide scholarship, internship, mentoring and career-path opportunities to students and members of the community who want to develop the skills and competencies needed to obtain jobs in the aerospace industry and related sectors. The ADSC plans to provide educational certifications and specialized training to connect its targeted learning communities to job readiness and career enhancement, and to coordinate with state Workforce Centers throughout the region to facilitate job training and assist in job placement.
Forrest says the ADSC hopes to expand to include other workforce centers and academic institutions at all levels.
“The STEM Academy is about bridge-building,” said Forrest, “from kindergarten to Ph.D.s.”
