About the network
Regional STEM Learning Ecosystems are the connective tissue that make this work possible. They help bring precollege programs together with colleges, universities, admissions offices, other ecosystems, and accreditation professionals to build the relationships, connections, and understanding that drive transformational change.
The STEM PUSH Network partners with established, urban-based STEM Learning Ecosystems, who commit to recruiting precollege STEM programs from across their region, developing a related plan of action with their programs, and attending STEM PUSH convenings, among other expectations and benefits.
As of January 2022, the network has coordinated two cohorts of ecosystems and programs.
Cohort 1
California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania

Summer Math and Science Honors (SMASH) Academy

University of California’s Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program

California Academy of Science’s Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program

Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM)

Project Exploration
Northeastern Illinois University’s STEM Pathways program

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s Teenagers Exploring and Explaining Nature and Science (TEENS) program

The Rockefeller University’s Science Outreach program

New York Hall of Science’s Science Career Ladder

The Cooper Union’s STEM Outreach program

Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy’s Young Naturalists

The Citizen Science Lab’s ICE-T Project

University of Pittsburgh’s Gene Team

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania’s Artificial Intelligence Pathways Institute
Cohort 2
Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio

The University of Arizona’s Native American Science & Engineering Program

Arizona State University’s Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program

The University of Arizona’s Imagine Your STEM Future

The University of Arizona’s Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program

Kean University’s Group Summer Scholars Research Program

Camden County College’s 21st Century STEM Scholars Program

HIT in the CLE

Case Western Reserve University’s Provost Scholars

Whether you’re a current STEM PUSH cohort member or a STEM Learning Ecosystem looking to dive deeper into equity and college admissions, know that you have a crucial role to play. You are the link that helps bring all the needed STEM stakeholders together to build a more dynamic and diverse school, college, and career pathway for Black and Brown learners.
By better understanding your role, you can help actively reimagine and rebuild relationships between precollege STEM programs and college admissions in your region, and ultimately, support deeper equity and diversity in STEM learning and careers.
The STEM PUSH Network designed this digital playbook to help you:
- Identify and support precollege STEM programs in your region that are working to increase equity in STEM
- Build connections between precollege STEM programs and local higher education admissions departments and professionals
- Identify and facilitate conversations with policymakers, funders, and other stakeholders invested in equitable STEM systems