RIT to lead national effort to expand STEM pathways and support Army readiness
RIT is leading a consortium to build a pipeline to STEM education and careers. Donna Burnette, center, executive director of RIT’s K-12 University Center, and partners announced the consortium funded by the U.S. Department of Army STEM at a news conference on May 5.
The U.S. Department of the Army Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Army STEM) has awarded the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) a premier cooperative agreement to establish and lead the Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC).
This award recognizes RIT’s ability to drive educational innovation and excellence. RIT and its consortium of partners will spearhead critical efforts to advance Army STEM strategic goals and take a central role in developing and expanding the nation’s STEM talent pipeline to meet vital national security priorities well into the future.
As the lead organization, RIT will coordinate a collaborative network of partners to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of STEM education and workforce development programs serving students and educators from elementary school through postdoctoral study.
“The future of STEM education and workforce development is rapidly evolving,” said Donna Burnette, executive director of RIT’s K-12 University Center and ASEC chair and principal investigator. “To remain effective and impactful, Army STEM must be flexible, adaptive, and innovative and anticipate the needs of the future workforce and the mission it supports.”
The consortium was formed to leverage STEM education expertise from academia, for profit, nonprofit, and government organizations. The goal is to create STEM enrichment experiences, competitions, internships, and teacher professional development and long-term pathways into STEM education and careers.
Establishing a STEM ecosystem is a consortium priority, Burnette said. Students who engage early in Army STEM programs will have opportunities to continue their involvement as they advance, contributing as mentors, educators, researchers, and professionals within a growing national community.
The scope and ambition of ASEC make the initiative especially powerful, said RIT President Bill Sanders.
“Through this consortium, RIT will coordinate a nationwide network of partners to deliver STEM education and workforce development programs that reach students and educators from elementary school through postdoctoral study,” Sanders said. “This is not about steering students toward a single career, but about opening doors to exploration, preparation, and possibility.”
RIT is partnering with Blake Learning Solutions, the Griffiss Institute, ICF Incorporated, the National Science Teaching Association, and Tennessee Technological University to provide program delivery, educator engagement, data analytics, workforce development, and strategic communications.
The strength of the consortium lies in its partners, Burnette said. “Together, we have assembled a remarkable group of organizations, each bringing deep expertise, unique capabilities, and a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators who will contribute to the Army’s mission.”
The ASEC cooperative agreement is administered by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) on behalf of the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA ALT).
“The Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC) is a vital investment in our nation’s scientific and innovative future,” said Brian Leftridge, STEM program manager and ASEC cooperative agreement manager for U.S. Army DEVCOM. “By cultivating a diverse STEM talent pipeline from early education through postgraduate research, ASEC builds the expert workforce required for tomorrow’s research and development. This sustainable talent pool equips the Army and the nation to master emerging technologies and solve the world’s most complex technical challenges.”
RIT is leading a consortium to build a pipeline to STEM education and careers. Donna Burnette, center, executive director of RIT’s K-12 University Center, and partners announced the consortium funded by the U.S. Department of Army STEM at a news conference on May 5.
