STEM Partners Foundation And Neumont College Of Computer Science Partner To Develop Next Phase In STEM Mentor Exchange
The STEM Partners Foundation and Neumont College of Computer Science are partnering to advance the next stage of the STEM Mentor Exchange Program (STEM MX).
Launched in July 2017, the STEM MX free smartphone application matches K-12 educators with volunteers. Using the app, teachers post their curriculum and project needs and industry experts list their time, talents and resources available to educators. Through Neumont’s Enterprise Partner Program, Neumont students are developing a web-based platform to support the STEM MX mobile app that is expected to launch later this spring. The goal of the app and web-based platform is to simplify and encourage collaboration between educators and skilled volunteers.
“The STEM MX web app will greatly expand the functionality and use of the Exchange,” said Brent Petersen, executive director of STEM Partners Foundation. “We are excited to join with Neumont in making it easier for teachers and industry experts to connect and help prepare our students for the thousands of STEM jobs being created in Utah.”
Neumont President Aaron Reed, Ed.D., said, “We are passionate about computer science education and honored to be a part of this tremendous collaboration. For years, we’ve been focused on preparing our graduates for careers in computer science and related fields to help fill the talent gap in STEM jobs. Helping grow the STEM pipeline before college is exactly the type of outreach we should be involved in.”
There are over 200,000 STEM jobs in Utah today, and that number is expected to increase by 25% in the next ten years. According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS), about 7,000 STEM jobs are posted each week. Many of these jobs remain unfulfilled with 52% of employers citing difficulty finding candidates with the right knowledge, skills and experience.
Through Neumont’s Enterprise Partnerships, companies and Neumont students work in teams with a project manager from the company on a specific project for 10 weeks.
“STEM MX opens doors for the world of computer science,” Dr. Reed said. “It provides role models, educational experiences and resources that professionals are anxious to share with teachers and students. It’s a win for our schools, and it’s an opportunity for companies and their employees to give back. It’s really the perfect partnership.”
Neumont is unparalleled in its approach to academics — uniting business, technology, and creativity to educate tomorrow’s tech elite. With a focus on project-based learning, students are immersed in a tech environment from day one to earn a degree in technology that will help launch their careers.
The STEM Partners Foundation represents the efforts of over 30 companies and organizations who formed the STEM Utah Industry Coalition in 2013 to raise awareness for STEM education and support the work of the Utah STEM Action Center. The web version of STEM MX is anticipated to launch in Spring of 2018.
