Northern Virginia Community College launching STEM initiative

Published October 24, 2014 by Jessica Sabbath

Northern Virginia Community College is launching a program to encourage students to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.

The college plans to spend $2.2. million over the next three years for equipment and faculty development to offer the most current STEM training for students at the college.

Students in these courses will have access to electron scanning microscopes, atomic force microscopes and other cutting-edge technologies. In addition, each of NOVA’s six campuses will designate a flagship STEM program that will receive resources for further development.

“An urgent need exists to increase the number of STEM graduates to help the Northern Virginia region remain viable competitors in the international knowledge-based marketplace and NOVA’s collegewide STEM initiative answers this challenge,” Manassas Provost Roger Ramsammy said in a statement.

The plan also aims to enrich student experiences with new curricular and extra-curricula STEM opportunities, advanced professional development opportunities and improved diversity in the college's STEM enrollment.