A Pilot Initiative to Enhance Cultural and Contextual Relevancy of Proven STEM Entrepreneur Supports for African-American Women
Bridging the STEM Entrepreneurial Gap for Under-Represented Minority Women By Using the NSF I-Corps™ Program Methodology
STEEP is an 18-month training program that utilizes the learning model and networks of NSF I-Corps and the STEM-specific workforce development supports of Wayne State University available through WSU’s STEM Innovation Learning Center and TechTown infrastructure and trainings, while incorporating culturally-relevant and context-sensitive training that specifically supports outcomes for underrepresented female STEM entrepreneurs.
STEEP will formally engage with “Train-the-Trainer” approach. These trainings made up of a blended delivery design, are comprised of 16 synchronous and asynchronous modules delivered using a progressive engagement model to encourage independence over the course of the program.
STEEP modules offer trainings in the following topics:
Business Creation
STEM Business Characteristics and Challenges
Translating New Technologies to Business
Leadership & Network-Building Skills
The Need for New Strategies for Greater Inclusion of Underrepresented Women in STEM
The STEM Entrepreneurial Excellence Program (STEEP) is a pilot initiative to enhance the cultural and contextual relevancy of a proven STEM entrepreneurship support program using NSF I-Corps™ as our model program. STEEP will recruit and train 50 women interested in creating or furthering a STEM-based business into a 18-month training program. The training program will build upon the experiential learning model of NSF I-Corps with culturally-relevant and context-sensitive training that measurably improves outcomes of female STEM entrepreneurs. The project will be divided into two simultaneous cohorts – a cohort of strong STEM backgrounds without business experience and a cohort of meaningful business backgrounds without traditional STEM training.
Broader Impacts
The outcomes generated by STEEP will have broader impacts on the full understanding of how to sustainably support diverse groups in pursuing STEM entrepreneurship. The work of STEEP can be used to inform scaled strategies and programs to increase the number of African-American women pursing STEM-based entrepreneurial business endeavors. Furthermore, increased success of African-American women in STEM-based businesses will also support recruitment and retention of African-American women and girls in the pursuit of STEM degrees and careers. Finally, STEM innovation is driven by those participating in the full extent of the STEM ecosystem – from business to education to informed consumer and service driver.
The 5 Objectives of STEEP are to:
1
Engage 50 African-American Women
2
Increase Empowerment in Creating STEM-Based Businesses
3
Achieve 85% Persistence Rate
4
Sustainably Expand Business Network and Networking Skills
5
Achieve 75% "Intent to Pursue" Rate
Partners
The STEEP Program is comprised of African-American STEM entrepreneurial pioneers and allies, academic leaders, industry partners and advisors, and a cadre of curriculum developers and facilitators
The Julian C. Madison Building, LLC (JCMB)
JCMB has engaged in critical research to address several high risk factors associated with program delivery models, and outlined how – with the right team and expectations – a high payoff is more than possible…it is doable. Through intentional collaboration with Wayne State University and the University of Michigan, JCMB has established the STEEP Project Team.
Wayne State University (WSU)
WSU is the Carnegie Classification R1 research university located in Detroit, Michigan and has a 40+ year history of federal TRIO programs, which help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education with enhanced support. Student Success resources for underrepresented minorities in STEM also include WSU programs through the Michigan alliance of the NSF-funded LSAMP program and a lead role for Detroit consortium of NIH-funded BUILD program, alongside WSU’s own Med-Direct and McNair Scholars program.
University of Michigan (UM) / Midwest I-Corps™ Node
Established in January 2017, the Midwest I-Corps™ Node (by UM’s Center for Entrepreneurship with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University, and the University of Toledo) spurs innovation, collaboration, and economic impact in the region. As a grant collaborator and the Midwest I-Corps ™ Node, UM will socialize the NSF program methodology and drive representation of STEM innovation and African-American women in entrepreneurship via STEEP to an expanded student network and partners. Led by Dr. Jonathan Fay, Dixon and Carol Doll Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, UM brings a unique set of credentials to the STEEP Project Team.