The City College STEM Career and Leadership Institute

The STEM-CDI Career and Leadership Institute will improve the success of CCNY students/graduates in the job market in the STEM disciplines.This will be accomplished by providing experiences and training that will develop skills and competencies necessary for successful transition to professional life.In addition to career development skills, students will be receiving training in communication, teamwork and leadership.Participants will be placed in campus leadership positions where they will be able to put this training to use immediately.

Career Development:

The participants will receive training in skills needed to successfully identify and obtain career positions in the STEM disciplines.This will include:

·Resume/CV preparation:This training will be geared to the needs of the STEM fields.

·Writing appropriate and effective cover letters:This is an important skill that is all too often glossed over

·Proper job search and interview etiquette:It is important to know how to conduct oneself during a job search.Topics will include appropriate means of communication and appropriate dress.

·Interview skills:Participants will be run through mock interviews which will be recorded for playback and critique.

Professional Development:

Each participant will receive training in skills needed by new professionals in the STEM disciplines.In developing this program we have asked faculty and industry employers to identify the skills and experiences from which new professionals would most benefit.This information has led to the following list of training topics:

·Teamwork and team leadership:To develop these skills the CLI participants will all be trained in Peer Led Team Learning.This an innovative training program developed at CCNY that teaches students to be peer leaders and peer teachers.Through this training participants learn to be effective team member, team leaders and innovative teachers.

·Effective oral and written communication: Training will polish the skills participants already possess and work to develop them for the workplace with attention paid on the specific needs of the STEM industry.

·STEM relevant business presentation skills:The ability to make aneffective business presentation is very important for the new professional in any field, but especially in the STEM industry where new products and ideas must compete for attention and development resources.While students are familiar with making presentations to their peers in classes, they tend to lack the skills and experience needed to provide a concise, informative and persuasive business presentation.

Leadership Practicum:Each participant will perform 75 – 100 hours in peer leadership positions on the CCNY campus.These leadership practicums are designed to give the participants the opportunity to put into practice the leadership, teaching and presentations skills that they will learn in the training sessions. Each participant will perform 75 – 100 hours in student leadership positions on the CCNY campus.These practicum placements will include:

·Embedded tutors:CCNY is now developing new science courses that will be a part of the new general education program.Each section will have a CLI participant assigned to it as an embedded tutor.The participant will work with the instructor to ensure that students are grasping the material, are employing appropriate note taking, and are keeping pace with the class and instructor.

·CCNY science and engineering ambassadors:The CLI students will receive training from the CCNY Office of Admissions to serve as Science and Engineering Ambassadors.In this role CLI participants will work with members of the Admissions team to interact with potential and incoming STEM students.They will also conduct STEM specific campus tours which will concentrate on the STEM department areas and labs.

·CCNY STEM outreach:The CLI participants will work with staff members from Engineering and the Sciences to bring information about STEM fields to area high school and middle school students.Participants will visit area schools and host on campus events designed to encourage young students to become interested in pursuing STEM careers.

Team Presentation:This exercise will be an opportunity for students to showcase all that they have learned during the program.A successful presentation will require teamwork, leadership, communication and presentation skills.In the early fall semester the participants will be formed into teams of three.Each team will be assigned an issue currently challenging the CCNY community.Each team must research and analyze their issue and propose a solution.This proposal will be the basis for a group presentation to their peers and a committee of CCNY faculty and administrators..Final presentations will be made during the spring semester.Two drafts of the presentation will be submitted to an advisor for feedback during the fall and spring semester.