STEM Distinction Key to Undergraduate Success
By Margaret Kidd
The U.S. Department of Education notes: “In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it’s more important than ever that our nation’s youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions.”
These are the kinds of skills that students develop in science, technology, engineering and math, including computer science, disciplines collectively known as STEM/CS. The Education Department states that building students’ skills, content knowledge and literacy in STEM fields is essential if we want a nation where future leaders, neighbors and workers can understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce. Also, all children – no matter where they live – should have access to quality learning environments: “A child’s ZIP Code should not determine their STEM literacy and educational options.”
Beginning fall 2022, the Supply Chain and Logistics Technology Program, B.S. Degree Plan at University of Houston will join an elite group of supply chain programs in Texas that are STEM/STEM-related as determined by the Department of Education’s Classification of Instructional Program (CIP), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Program List, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. We are excited to share this major milestone for the Supply Chain and Logistics Technology program, as we will be one of three undergraduate supply chain programs in Texas to have this distinction. The other two are in Dallas and Ft. Worth.
Training Tomorrow’s Project Workforce
It is notable that Texas, the nation’s No. 1 export state, and Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city and home to Port Houston, the No. 1 port in tonnage, will have in fall 2022 a STEM-related supply chain program training tomorrow’s workforce for critical 21st century jobs, as capital projects for energy transition, intelligent infrastructure and SMART cities become the new normal for economic prosperity, global security and a sustainable planet.
The STEM-related classification will expand opportunities for students to apply for scholarship funding, allows international students an opportunity upon graduation to apply for a STEM OPT extension for a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to their program of study in an approved STEM field, and provides a competitive advantage for students when applying for internships and jobs.
Students entering or enrolled in the Supply Chain and Logistics Technology program in fall 2022 will benefit from the new CIP Code approved spring 2022 by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The new code 52.1301 Management Science is a STEM- related field.
This is a game changer for our program of study, for students, and for industry partners in the capital projects sector.
Margaret Kidd is program director, supply chain & logistics technology at the University of Houston.
Image credit: Shutterstock
