Indiana Commission for Higher Education grant supports Conexus talent initiatives

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Conexus Indiana announced today that it has received funding from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) to help recruit, prepare, place and retain educators in schools with shortages in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subject areas.

The grant complements Conexus Indiana’s ongoing work with Indiana high school teachers to prepare students for rewarding careers in the advanced manufacturing and logistics industries. Specifically, the CHE grant will support Conexus Indiana’s leadership role in expanding hands-on, experiential learning opportunities through student-run manufacturing enterprise programs and curriculum that exposes students to advanced manufacturing and logistics skills, credentials and dual credit.

“Conexus Indiana works closely with educators to ensure they have everything they need to be successful in the classroom and with their students,” said Kyle Marshall, director of Talent Initiatives for Conexus Indiana. “This work is increasingly important as Indiana manufacturers and the logistics industry continue to experience a shortage of skilled talent and expect that gap to widen as Baby Boomers retire and new technologies change the way we make and move products.”

Read more about the grant program from the CHE press release:

Higher Education Commission Awards Nearly $10 Million in STEM Teacher Grants

(INDIANAPOLIS) – The Indiana Commission for Higher Education has awarded over $9.6 million to 16 organizations and colleges to support programs that recruit, prepare, place and retain educators in schools with teacher shortages in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subject areas. This year, the Commission saw a 40 percent increase in grant applications compared to the 2019 grant cycle.

Since the STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund was created by the General Assembly in 2013, it has supported over 2,000 current and new STEM educators throughout Indiana. This is the fifth round of grant funding.

“For Indiana to have a competitive, skilled workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow, there must be a strong pipeline of students pursuing STEM fields,” said Indiana’s Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers. “Teachers play a critical role in getting students interested in these fields and preparing them to be successful to pursue them after high school.”

The selected programs focus on recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers in underserved STEM classrooms and high-need school districts. These programs also provide access to coursework necessary for STEM teachers to continue teaching dual credit courses; support teacher mentorship programs; offer teacher training models; increase rural access to computer science content and teaching; and provide training to teachers of advanced manufacturing and logistics content.

2021 STEM Teacher Recruitment Fund Award Recipients

  • Conexus Indiana
  • Independent Colleges of Indiana/Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning
  • Nextech
  • Purdue Research Foundation (two programs):
    • Strengthening Indiana’s Future Through the 21st Century STEM Teachers
    • STEM Teacher Retention Through Mentoring
  • Teach for America
  • University of Southern Indiana Foundation (two programs):
    • Teaching Eagles Scholarship Program
    • New Experiences for Instructors of Dual Enrollment (NExIDE)
  • Project Lead The Way
  • Ball State University Foundation – Hoosier STEM Academy
  • University of Evansville
  • Indiana University Foundation (two programs):
    • Growing Tomorrow’s STEM Teachers (GTST)
    • Southeast Indiana STEM (SEISTEM) Project 2.0
  • TNTP
  • Educate ME Foundation, Inc.
  • Marian University
  • Regional Opportunity Initiatives
  • Butler University
  • Franklin College

About the Indiana Commission for Higher Education

Created in 1971, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education plans, coordinates and defines Indiana’s postsecondary education system to align higher learning with the needs of students and the state. The Commission also administers Indiana’s financial aid programs, including the 21st Century Scholars early college promise scholarship, which celebrated 30 years in 2020. Learn more about the Commission’s Reaching Higher in a State of Change strategic plan at www.in.gov/che.