College Students
CeMaST supports increasing opportunities for students who identify with groups that are marginalized in and minoritized by mainstream STEM, including students who identify as Black or African American, Latinx, Native American, women, LGBTQ, and students who otherwise feel they have not been allowed a voice in STEM disciplines. Furthermore, CeMaST strives to support the university's efforts to prepare future STEM teachers in providing equitable and inclusive STEM education throughout their careers.
Programs
IPREFER Undergraduate Research Experience
The Integrated Pennycress Research Enabling Farm & Energy Resilience (IPREFER) project seeks to optimize off-season pennycress oilseed production to make a cash cover crop available to farmers as well as produce a sustainable biofuel. IPREFER offers a paid undergraduate research experience during the summer.
STEM Alliance
STEM Alliance seeks to support STEM majors who identify with a group that is marginalized in and minoritized by mainstream STEM. STEM Alliance events include career days, field trips, mentoring by STEM faculty, financial assistance, and support for engaging in undergraduate research.
NexSTEM Scholarship Program
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the NexSTEM program provides four-year scholarships to approximately 70 academically successful, low-income students from central Illinois who are pursuing STEM degrees at Heartland Community College (HCC), Illinois State University (ISU), or Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU). Successful applicants will be awarded scholarships of up to $10,000 a year for four years. Scholarship recipients who begin their college educations at HCC and then transfer to ISU or IWU will have their scholarship transfer with them when they pursue an eligible program. In addition to receiving financial support, scholarship recipients will be part of mentoring network and gain real world experience by participating with faculty and peers in STEM research projects that serve the greater McLean County community.
April Schermann STEM Scholarship
Funded by a gift from ISU alumna and local STEM teacher, the April Schermann STEM Scholarship provides a $1,500 scholarship to a sophomore, junior, or senior STEM major who demonstrates financial need and a sophisticated understanding of the importance of women's participation in STEM disciplines.
National Center for Urban Education
Teaching in an urban school is an exciting calling that requires specialized preparation. Urban teachers must meet the needs of students from a range of cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The NCUE, housed at ISU, provides this specialized preparation in the form of teaching/community-based internships, unique clinical experiences, and specially designed courses.
Innovation Consulting Community
College students are provided with a transformational learning experience guided by project mentors with the opportunity to further develop a creative mindset to propose solutions to complex problems and innovation in strategy.
STEM Extracurricular Opportunities
You don't have to be a STEM major to have fun with STEM! Physics-related activities include the solar car competition, astronomy club, and the trebuchet challenge. Biology-related clubs include BSSA (Biological Sciences Student Association) and the professional fraternity, Phi Sigma. And there is also Chem Club, Geology Club, and the numerous technology-related opportunities.