We are very excited to offer your child the opportunity to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) programs at UCCS! As part of our mission, we are constantly trying to better understand how best to meet the needs of children, educators, and parents as we strive for excellence in STEM education. To accomplish this, we offer year-round enrichment events for middle and high school students funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research through our Partnership in Innovative Preparation for Educators & Students (PIPES) Research Program. These events are meant to engage students with inquiry-based hands-on activities, and include topics like Robotics, Solar Cars, Rocketry, Sports Medicine, Biotechnology, Circuit Design, Board & Computer Game Design, Kitchen Chemistry, Cyber Security, CSI Investigation, Wildlife Biology, Physics of Filmmaking, Health Sciences, Audio Engineering, and Math Powered Art.
Enrollment in the PIPES Research Program is not a requirement for participation in our activities (with the exception of Math Bridge), but enrollment does offer the added benefits of lower cost of attendance, and scholarships to cover the cost of these activities for qualified students.
PIPES - The Partnership in Innovative Preparation for Educators & Students seeks to respond to the looming shortage of skilled science, technology, engineering and math workers and the lagging performance of students in science and math through innovative and supportive partnerships with parents, educators and professionals. Not only do we want to keep the STEM pipeline full, we also want to increase its diameter by attracting a new generation of creative, artistic and innovative students to solve our future problems. We offer programs for middle and high school students and teachers to increase the pipeline of engineers and scientists. Opportunities include educator professional development, inquiry-based science workshops and summer camps, research and development, and student success intervention programs.
If you would like more information about the PIPES Research Program, you can:
A series of science events on the UCCS campus that focus on a particular topic in science and math with hands-on projects, labs and guest speakers demonstrating how those topics are being used in society. These events are open to both middle and high school students.
Mind Quest events are held Saturdays, and run from 8:00 to 11:30 for middle school students, and noon to 4:00 for high school students.
The cost for 2011 Mind Quest activities is $20 for enrolled PIPES students, and $50 for non-enrolled students.
STEM in Real Life is a two day summer opportunity for 6th through 8th grade students (grade in the upcoming school year) to engage in fun, hands-on activities on the UCCS campus. Students can choose from over 30 different workshops to create their 2 day schedule based on what interests them.
The cost for the summer 2011 SIRL event is $75 for enrolled PIPES students, and $150 for non-enrolled students.
FLITE offers a five day opportunity for high school students to engage in a hands on science and technology project of their choosing alongside an industry mentor.
The cost for the summer 2011 FLITE event is $150 for enrolled PIPES students, and $300 for non-enrolled students.
Jumpstart STEM is a four day scenario-driven summer experience where students get to work with the professionals in the field, along with their cool toys, to solve a mock crime and see just how much science, technology, engineering, and math are involved in police, fire and emergency management jobs.
The cost for the summer 2011 Jumpstart event is $125 for enrolled PIPES students, and $250 for non-enrolled students.
The Math Bridge program was created to help students make a smooth transition from high school to college mathematics. It runs the entire academic year and is offered mostly online. It can be taken by high school students who have completed Algebra II AND are enrolled in our PIPES research program.
The cost for the 2011-12 year is $100, and PIPES scholarships are available to offset the cost.
CSTEME is engaged in a partnership with the Pre-Collegiate Development Program (PCDP) located on the UCCS campus. This program has a 26 year track record in working with under represented populations in assisting them to pursue their dreams of a college education. With a 96% success rate in working with prospective first generation college families and students, this partnership will facilitate several of the goals of the PIPES program.
PCDP students attend PIPES activities as enrolled PIPES students.