“Tennessee has the potential to lead in high-tech industry and scientific research—but we need a well-trained local workforce to do it,” Gordon said. “This funding will help MTSU ensure its promising incoming students achieve their full potential in science, engineering and technical fields.”
According Dr. Thomas Cheatham, dean of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences and coordinator of the FirstSTEP program, many incoming students arrive with a strong interest in STEM fields but subsequently leave for other majors because they are underprepared to pass early mathematics requirements.
FirstSTEP will place at-risk students in an intensive two-year academic and student support program, beginning with a summer “bridge” program and including mentoring and individualized lesson plans. FirstSTEP builds on the success of other MTSU programs aimed at improving graduation rates within STEM fields. The first group of freshmen will begin the FirstSTEP program this summer.
“Math presents challenges to many incoming STEM students. It’s the gatekeeper for STEM fields, and a lot of students change majors because they think they can’t pass it. They need some help to succeed, and this project will make that possible,” Cheatham said. “We have a great group of mathematics faculty leading the project and we’re excited to get started.”
Gordon, chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology, has been a leader in supporting STEM education in Middle Tennessee and across the nation.
“When I was growing up in Murfreesboro, I knew I would have to compete with students from Nashville and Knoxville for jobs. Today, students in Murfreesboro have to compete with students from India and China for high-paying, high-tech jobs,” Gordon said. “We need to arm our students with the science and math education they need to contend with a global marketplace.”
Last week, the House of Representatives passed the America COMPETES Act, Gordon’s landmark STEM education and technology development bill. Recognizing that today’s students must compete for high-quality jobs in an increasingly high-tech global market, the COMPETES Act increases support for STEM education at all levels. The bill would strengthen coordination of STEM programs across federal agencies and encourage more participation from female students and underrepresented groups. The bill would also turn more attention toward identifying the challenges faced by rural school districts, which often have less access to high speed Internet and lab resources.











