Pathways to Success: Investigating the Promotion of STEM Education in New Jersey
Matthew S. Guglielmello, Stephanie Holcomb, Jim Lloyd, and Hao Wu
The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) provides coordination, planning, policy development, and advocacy for the state’s higher education system. It is also responsible for institutional licensure and the administration of the Educational Opportunity Fund and other programs. It serves as the principal advocate for an integrated system of higher education, which provides a broad scope of higher education programs and services. The system includes both public and independent institutions and enrolls over 410,000 full- and part-time credit-seeking students statewide. Highlighting the importance of education related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to the future of New Jersey’s workforce.
The New Jersey STEM Pathways Network (the Network) was established in 2014 to bring together organizations within the state to better coordinate programs supporting the education of New Jersey students in fields related to STEM. Chaired by Laura Overdeck, the public-private strategic alliance informs the alignment of STEM resources, supports an education-to-workforce STEM pipeline, identifies exemplary formal and informal learning opportunities, and promotes STEM career pathway awareness. As part of its efforts, the Network has maintained a self-reported list of STEM programs.