{"id":5230,"date":"2017-04-12T11:20:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-12T16:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=5230"},"modified":"2022-04-26T13:55:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T18:55:54","slug":"center-access-achievement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/center-access-achievement\/","title":{"rendered":"91探花 Launches Center for Access and Achievement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading time: 3 minutes<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

91探花 is launching the Center for Access and Achievement in the\u00a0School of Education<\/a>. The Center is focused on one goal: To prepare students in low-income school districts with the skills and abilities they need to succeed in STEM fields of study in college and in the workforce.<\/p>\n

Known as CA2, the center will focus on science, technology, engineering and math to prepare students for the numerous jobs that exist in the St. Louis region and beyond.<\/p>\n

Steve Coxon<\/a>, associate professor and director of programs in gifted education, will direct the new center. He continues to work on a variety of programs that give students in underfunded districts in St. Louis County the boost they need to thrive, including App Dev Camp with Riverview Gardens, STEM Sprouts with Ritenour preschoolers, C3 and CREST-M STEM curriculum creation projects, Young Scholars with Ferguson-Florissant, and the 91探花 Science and Robotics Program, which offers open enrollment courses in all areas of STEM for ages 4-16. These programs will all become part of the Center\u2019s initiatives.<\/p>\n

Each focus of the center, access and achievement, is important, Coxon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess is for students who traditionally haven\u2019t seen college as part of their future,\u201d Coxon said. \u201cWe can show them that it can be and it should be. Then we will give them experiences on both 91探花\u2019s campus and in schools and afterschool programs to help them on their way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not just enrolling students who would already be successful, but finding untapped potential and helping kids realize their individual potential.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To increase achievement, he said, CA2 will help teachers incorporate techniques that let students take a more active role in their own education.<\/p>\n

\u201cPassive learning is the teacher lecturing or writing on a chalkboard and students following along,\u201d Coxon said. \u201cActive learning is where students do everything, and the teacher is there more as a coach or a guide.\u201d<\/p>\n

This summer, 200 middle and high school students from Riverview Gardens will take part in a two-week program at 91探花 that includes iPad app development as well as engaging college life activities ranging from a field day with everything from Zumba and video game competitions to learning about applying for college and how to obtain needed financial aid. The Center will also work with several partner school districts in North St. Louis County.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really works together with 91探花\u2019s strategic plan and our strong leadership in education,\u201d Coxon said. \u201cWe\u2019re not just enrolling students who would already be successful, but finding untapped potential and helping kids realize their individual potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

A major goal of CA2, Coxon said, is to give students insight into experiences they may otherwise miss.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we really want to see in long-term results is more kids going to college,\u201d he said. \u201cWe hope many students will come to 91探花, but we want to help prepare them for post-secondary education and future careers they wish to pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n

POSTSCRIPT<\/b>: Thank you Fox2Now for featuring CA2<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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