About the Collaboratory

The STEM-WC enhances curricula at WMU and academic partners, provides WMU with the direction and resources for continual upgrading of STEM lab equipment and technology, and establishes a way for faculty, students, and industry to effectively engage with one another. Specifically, the goals of the STEM-WC are to:

1. Establish an entity for students, industry, and the academic community to come together and develop knowledge and skills through STEM-focused microcredentials

   STEM-WC will offer training that leads to microcredentials (both non-credit and for credit) in collaboration with industry partners and West Michigan community colleges and high schools. Microcredentials will expand pathways for students to obtain, or gain college credit toward, a two-year or a four-year degree, or to document career-relevant training;
   
   

2. Establish an entity to enhance course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) and student internships to gain relevant real-world knowledge while pursuing a college education;
   
   

3. Provide opportunities for externships for WMU faculty to gain real-world experience so that they can better incorporate industry needs into current and future curricula;
   
   

4. Establish an entity to allow for industry partners to communicate training needs to WMU; and
   
   

5. Establish an entity to allow for WMU faculty experts to help industry solve problems.