STEM Pioneers Program

First-year, pre-major students who are in the first generation in their family to attend college and have an interest in the sciences are encouraged to join the STEM Pioneers Program.

Throughout the course of their first year at Montclair State University, STEM Pioneers will explore the sciences, learning more about the opportunities that are available to them academically and professionally in the College of Science and Mathematics. Students can (but are not required to) declare a major in science at the end of the program.

Students may join the program by selecting STEM Pioneers when they complete their First-Year Schedule Questionnaire once they have been accepted to and have committed to Montclair State.

Students are members of the STEM Pioneers community for one year, where they will receive preferred registration for two courses designed to introduce them to the intersection of science and cultural concepts in a supportive environment with peers who share similar interests and goals.

Students who participate in CSAM 101 – Science Matters! are eligible to receive peer mentoring from students participating in the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program. Mentors in this program are upper-class science majors who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and are also, often, the first in their family to go to college. Mentoring can vary based on student needs, but generally includes discussions around navigating Montclair State’s campus, networks and systems, and academic support. Meetings are usually held weekly in either an individual or group session.

STEM Pioneers learn first-hand what life inside a science major looks like before committing to a specific major. Throughout their program, STEM Pioneers will connect with faculty and peers to learn more about how science influences everyday life. They will participate in hands-on experiences outside the classroom as well as career exploration opportunities.

Students will receive extended academic support throughout their program to ready them for a potential major in the sciences.

Students will participate in a free immersion program at offered at one of several off-campus research sites.

Students will have an academic advisor who specializes both in working with students interested in the sciences, and in helping students decide the best academic path for them at Montclair State University.

We are here to answer any questions you may have. In your email, please use the subject line: STEM Pios

Professor Dirk Vanderklein: vanderkleid@montclair.edu

Ms. Julie Dalley: dalleyj@montclair.edu