Welcome to the website for the STEP@UCO program. STEP refers to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program as funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Our emphasis in this program is on supporting undergraduate research and education. A Summer Bridge program is offered for students majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). The program is for incoming UCO freshmen as well as community college students who plan to transfer to UCO, Langston, East Central, or Northeastern for the fall 2013 semester. On-campus housing is available at no cost to participants.
Summer Bridge for Incoming Freshmen: We recruit students from high schools into a Summer Bridge program in which they are exposed to both teaching and research (laboratory and/or field) activities and support them with stipends. Participants will get a head-start on their college education by working with faculty mentors from the UCO College of Mathematics and Science on research projects. Summer Bridge participants will receive a $1,000 stipend. Students who wish to continue with their research receive $800 stipends during their freshman year. STEP@UCO participants are also eligible for scholarships through the NSF-funded CURE S-STEM (Center for Undergraduate Research and Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program at UCO. CURE S-STEM scholars may receive up to $5,100 in scholarship funds per year for up to four years. Click here for a brochure.
Summer Bridge for Transfer Students: The program is designed for students transferring from a community college to one of four state universities--UCO, Langston, East Central, and Northeastern--who plan to major in a STEM discipline. Participants will work with faculty mentors from one of the four universities to which they plan to transfer beginning in the fall 2013 semester. They will work with faculty on research projects during the month of July, and receive a $1,000 stipend. Click here for a brochure.
Dates for the 2013 Summer Bridge are as follows:
Sunday June 30, 3 p.m. - Participant Check-in
Week 1 - July 1 through 3, (holiday on July 4 and 5-no sessions held)
Week 2 - July 8 through 11
Week 3 - July 15 through 18
Week 4 - July 22 through 25
All freshman and transfer student applications for Summer Bridge are due Friday, May 24, 2013 at 5 p.m. Applications must be mailed to the address on the form or hand-delivered to Howell Hall room 214. NO faxed or emailed applications will be accepted.
Summer Bridge 2013 application for incoming UCO freshmen
Summer Bridge 2013 application for community college students transferring to UCO
Summer Bridge 2013 faculty mentors
Summer Research Program for High School Science and Mathematics Teachers: High school teachers have the opportunity to participate in research with UCO faculty during the month of July (same schedule as above). Teachers work alongside the Summer Bridge student participants and faculty mentors to increase their research experience. These experiences gained by the teachers are valuable for integration into the STEM curricula in their high school classrooms. Each teacher participant will receive a $2,000 stipend. Click here for an application.
Three other Oklahoma campuses participate in the program: East Central University in Ada, Langston University in Langston, and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. For more information on STEP@UCO, please contact Dr. Evan Lemley, cmsosp@uco.edu or 405 974-5473.