STEM: Meeting the science and technology demand

With science and technology continuing to change the nature of our everyday lives and the future of our economy, building the necessary foundation through education is a critical issue. Consider the fact that Minnesota's economic forecast projects a 20 to 33 percent increase in scientific and technical occupations in the next ten years.

At the 17 institutions of the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC), education in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields has long been a cornerstone. We are preparing to meet the state's demand.

Integral to the curriculum
Our private colleges and universities have long considered STEM education to be important and have made it an integral part of the liberal arts curriculum. When partnered with course work such as fine arts, philosophy, literature and writing, students develop a varied set of skills providing a broad understanding of the world. Significant numbers of MPCC students major in STEM disciplines, accounting for one-fourth of the undergraduate STEM degrees in Minnesota.

When you look at specific STEM fields, MPCC institutions excel in producing graduates and leaders. For example:

Collectively, our schools award 39 percent of the state’s degrees in the biological and physical sciences. St. Olaf College graduates more chemistry majors that any other four-year college in the nation. Carleton College leads in the number of women who go on to earn doctorates in the physical sciences. Read A hothouse for female scientists in the Carleton Voice.
We award more than 40 percent of the state’s health profession degrees, especially for students choosing graduate and professional work. Concordia College graduates enter medical school at rates that are twice the national average. Read Improving My Home Country's Health Care.
We award 40 percent of all mathematics degrees in the state. Carleton College does especially well; its summer math program for female undergraduate students helps to build excitement and skills and encourages exploration of math careers.
In 2004, the University of St. Thomas established one of three new U.S. engineering schools. Fourteen MPCC institutions are among the 17 Minnesota institutions partnering with the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology dual degree program.
Many MPCC graduates seek advanced degrees in STEM fields. One-third of students pursing masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Minnesota completed their undergraduate education at one of Minnesota’s Private Colleges.

Supporting STEM studies
Minnesota Private College Fund is actively encouraging students to pursue STEM disciplines with current and developing scholarships. The Medtronic Foundation Scholarship is awarded to students from Minnesota who are pursing studies in math, science or computers. The Xcel Energy Foundation Scholarship is currently awarded to Minnesota students studying math, science, engineering or environmental science. And recently the Galileo Scholarship Fund was introduced, which will support students with financial need who are studying the STEM disciplines.

MPCC institutions recognize that a strong foundation in STEM disciplines and continued output of graduates in these fields is important to Minnesota. Look in next month's NEWS for an article on what MPCC members are doing to further STEM education in partnership with other higher education institutions and community and business leaders.