KC BANCS

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The University of Missouri-Kansas City Institute for Human Development and School of Computing and Engineering are collaborating on a project called KC BANCS to build an alliance for new careers in S.T.E.M.

GOAL:
  • “Increase the participation and success of people with disabilities within the Kansas City region in STEM education pathways. The result will be an increase in students who complete associate and undergraduate degrees and ultimately enter the STEM workforce.”

The Kansas City region needs a pathway for individuals with disabilities to enter and advance in careers in the STEM fields. The KC-BANCS project proposes to forge an accessible path.  Individuals with disabilities, including veterans, have talents and career drive to offer, but often lack necessary education for employment in STEM fields. KC-BANCS seeks to increase the number of students and veterans with disabilities who: enter STEM post-secondary academic programs, complete two-year and four-year degrees in STEM fields, and ultimately enter the workforce in STEM related careers. The project will do this through partnerships with regional STEM educators, community organizations, and individuals with disabilities.

Because existing gaps often create barriers for this population, a variety of new, focused services and supports will be made available to students and veterans with disabilities. Through KC-BANCS, students will have access to opportunities for peer support, assistance with navigating college programs and systems, career exploration, and internships.   Ultimately technology-related businesses in the region will benefit from increased numbers of academically prepared workers, and the region will benefit from having a path for individuals with disabilities to achieve their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)-related career goals.

PROGRAMMING:
  • Addressing the academic and career development needs of individuals with disabilities (high school students, traditional college students, and veterans). This includes encouragement for  individuals from culturally, linguistically, racially, and ethnically diverse communities.
  • Information, tools and training for teaching diverse learners made available to faculty at the high school and college levels.
  • Supports for faculty to help students navigate STEM degrees and career paths.
  • College faculty teaching in STEM fields will learn about universal design and how to apply it to the courses they teach, and strategies for teaching veterans, as well as assistance with providing opportunities for applied learning.

National Science Foundation logo
KC BANCS is funded under National Science Foundation Award No. 0022796.   Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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