Center for STEM Inclusion

Partner With Us

Our STEM workforce education and development programming is only possible with donor support. We believe the youth of the greater Philadelphia area have incredible potential to be successful in the STEM industry and play an integral role in shaping future technological advancements. Donor support allows us to provide enrichment opportunities, and exposure to college campuses and local industries by providing funding for:

• Food and Transportation - The two most significant barriers for low-income students to participate in enrichment events are transportation and food. The WCU STEM Outreach Program aims not only to bring science to the students but also to bring the students to the science, at WCU. Many low-income students do not have the means to travel to campus and may not receive three meals a day without those provided by their schools. Donor funding will be used to provide roundtrip busing from local schools to WCU and to provide meals during events. For example, $2,500 will provide busing and meals for 100+ students for a daylong event/workshop at WCU.
• Supplies and Consumables - Our state-of-the-art equipment helps us showcase real science at our outreach workshops. However, to keep the experiments running, we must replenish consumables, such as chemicals to synthesize gold nanoparticles or electrodes for electrophysiology experiments, annually.
• Incentives for Undergraduate Assistants - WCU undergraduate volunteers mentor and engage the students in these programs. These near-peer mentors can inspire students in the program, and for the undergraduates, this experience is a valuable leadership development opportunity. We would like to supply volunteers with $20 gift cards per day to cover travel and thank them for their time.
• Scholarships - One of the largest barriers to attending college for high-achieving, low-income students is the cost of tuition. WCU is a PASSHE school with a fixed, affordable tuition. The average out-of-pocket cost for low-income students to attend WCU, after federal and state aid, is ~$6,000 per year. Scholarships of $5,000/year would cover most expenses, leaving these students nearly debt-free after earning their STEM degree.
• Administrative Costs - We work with three non-profits and 25+ middle and high schools to put on 20+ workshops and programs with over 2,000 participants. In addition, we set up mentoring, tutoring, research experiences and career workshops with our undergraduates. This comprehensive programming requires significant administrative work, which requires a dedicated administrative assistant. The operational fund for the Center for STEM Inclusion will be used to hire a dedicated administrative assistant.

How to Help

West Chester University sponsored programs are funded with support from the WCU Foundation, which works with corporations, non-profits, government entities and individuals to garner funding to support university initiatives, such as the Center for STEM Inclusion.

Corporations or Non-profits - If you are a corporation or foundation that would like to contribute to the Center for STEM Inclusion’s general operation fund, start an endowment or contribute to specific areas such as transportation or research stipends, please contact Viviann Schorle - vschorle@wcufoundation.org

The PA EITC Program - The EITC Program is a government initiative that can lower state tax liability up to $400,000 per year. When an approved business contributes to an EITC-designated organization for one year, they receive a 75% tax credit on the net cost of the donation. Contributing for two consecutive years can earn a business a 90% tax credit on the net cost of each donation.

I Want To STEM! - The WCU I Want to STEM! program is an EITC-approved initiative to provide outreach, enrichment, and STEM workforce education to Grades 3-12 students in Southeastern PA. Funds provided through the EITC program will go towards the consumables needed for our STEM outreach activities, as well as food and transportation for students coming to the WCU or one of our partner schools and summer research stipends for HS students. To submit to the I Want to STEM! EITC fund, please contact Viviann Schorle - vschorle@wcufoundation.org

Personal Donations - To contribute to the Center for STEM Inclusion’s general operation fund, please contact Kevin Pistiner – kpistiner@wcufoundation.org

Our Sponsors

Our dedicated sponsors play a crucial role in fulfilling our mission. We are grateful for their support because without them, making a meaningful change in the local STEM workforce ecosystem would not be possible. The contributions of our supporters are critical for developing and implementing innovative ways to inspire young people to pursue careers in STEM and provide them the skills, resources and guidance to get there.