Published July 23, 2020
The University of Louisiana Monroe has partnered with the LSU Gordon A. Cain Center
and McNeese State University to create the Louisiana STEM Pathways Consortium.
The consortium allows for the delivery of the LaSTEM Pathways curricula, teacher training,
and student certification across Louisiana.
ULM will work with Northeast Louisiana school systems to provide intensive training
to teachers in the high-demand biomedical sciences and computing fields, which will
enable each of the university's four colleges to participate.
Each partner university will work with their regional high school systems to implement
the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved STEM curricula
created by LSU faculty.
As a partner in the program, ULM will work with Northeast Louisiana school systems
to provide intensive training to teachers in the high-demand biomedical sciences and
computing fields, which will enable each of the university's four colleges to participate.
John Pratte, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, added, "This
is an effort across several colleges within ULM and with school districts in more
than 14 parishes. It is a tremendous opportunity for ULM to partner with LSU and McNeese
to provide workforce and education training."
The LaSTEM Pathways program provides high school students with the opportunity to
enroll in a progression of up to eight standards-based project- and inquiry-based
STEM courses to attain industry-promulgated credentials, university-issued certificates
of course completion, and/or dual enrollment credit. Students who complete the pathway
program graduate with either a career-tech diploma or an enhancement to their university-prep
diploma with a Silver or Gold STEM Diploma Seal.
Under the approved state education funding formula, a school district offering a BESE-approved
LaSTEM Pathway course that is taught by a trained and LSU-certified teacher receives
$482 per student per course in the form of Career Tech and Career Development supplements.
In the LaSTEM Pathways program, the bulk of the student credentialing will be completed
by LSU or ULM.
"Four of our faculty have been training with LSU faculty this summer to prepare for
their role in training regional high school teachers," indicated Ron Berry, Ph.D.,
Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences. "We look forward to working with
our secondary school partners across the region to improve STEM education through
this partnership."
John Sutherlin, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Public Administration and
LaSTEM Coordinator, added, "A great deal of thanks goes to Billy Dean Blackett, a
board member of the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission and a longtime advocate
of education and ULM. Dean helped bring all of the parties to the table, which led
to this exciting and very promising partnership. His commitment to providing opportunities
for young people across our region is exceptional."
For more information, about the Louisiana STEM Pathways Consortium, contact John Sutherlin,
Ph.D., at ULM, sutherlin@ulm.edu, 318-342-3201
