What is STEM education?

The term STEM is used to represent the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There is a growing movement in educational settings, both at the secondary and collegiate levels, to enhance STEM offerings to better prepare students and communities to be competitive in a growing global environment. Students studying STEM programs typically have strengths as innovators, inventors, logical thinkers, problem-solvers, and collaborators.

What is HCC doing with regards to STEM education?

HCC believes that nothing is more critical to the country’s future economic success than the reemergence of the United States as the world leader in STEM education. Today, more than two dozen nations are arguably doing a better job than the United States in educating their citizens for math and science careers vital to a country’s success in the global economy. The natural extension of this thinking is that the workforce in the Washington County region must become better educated in STEM related skills and knowledge, if we are to compete well in bringing new century high-skill, high-wage jobs to local communities.

HCC is partnering with several county organizations to make innovative STEM opportunities available to local citizens. Whether it be health sciences, biotechnology, information technology and cybersecurity, engineering, alternative energy, or applied mathematics, HCC is doing all it can, along with its local educational partners, to provide the community and its citizens with STEM education-based opportunities that will heavily influence the success of the local economy. Critical partners in this initiative are the Washington County Economic Development Commission, Washington County Public Schools, HCC’s Technical Innovation Center, Western Maryland Consortium, Small Business Development Center, University of Maryland at Hagerstown, and several others.