Clark’s campus to branch out

STEM: It stands for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, and though it may be an unfamiliar acronym now, Clark officials are working to change that.

Starting Fall of 2012, 120 ninth and tenth grade students from all around the Vancouver school district will be able to attend STEM magnet programs in the Clark building located on the Washington State University Vancouver campus. Also, in 2013, the Evergreen School District will open the Henrietta Lacks Health and Bioscience High School, a STEM magnet school with a focus on preparing students for biomedical careers.

"STEM fits really well with the needs of the region," said Dr. Peter Williams, dean of STEM at Clark. "This area could really benefit from college educated students who have studied in STEM fields."

A common belief among those in the STEM community is if students are able to access this type of education early, it could greatly improve their success in the future. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics, employment in STEM related careers is projected to grow 17 percent between 2008 and 2018, whereas non-STEM employment is projected to grow by 9.8 percent.

According to STEM Coordinator Erin Harwood, Vancouver businesses like silicon producer Shin-Etsu Handotai are in high demand for individuals who have STEM training.

"Our hope and goal is to create a more literate community in the importance of STEM

fields," said Harwood.

According to the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study of 2007, the United States' students were ranked 11th globally overall in science and 9th overall in Mathematics. The study, regulated by the National Center for Education Statistics, is an international assessment of the mathematics and science knowledge of fourth and eighth grade students from more than 60 countries.

According to Harwood, this is a statistic that can be drastically improved through proper funding, the right support from education professionals and involvement from the community at large.

Construction of Clark's STEM building will begin once the $38 million in capital funding from the state is made available in 2015. The building is projected to open in the fall quarter of 2017, at which time it will house most Clark STEM classes.

The project has been designed to allow for two additional expansions if needed, an extra story and an extension to the side of the building. Both renovations would allow for the integration of other STEM subjects, such as geology and surveying, that would otherwise still be taught on the main campus.