Welcome to the Rural STEM Resource Repository

This repository connects students, families, educators, employers, and community partners with STEM resources, career exploration tools, educational pathways, workforce information, and hands-on learning opportunities.

Whether you are exploring STEM careers, searching for classroom or enrichment resources, learning about local programs and events, or seeking connections to educational and workforce opportunities, this repository serves as a central hub for discovering pathways in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

What is STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to learning and problem-solving that combines two or more of these fields to address real-world challenges and create innovative solutions.

Each area plays an important role:

• Science helps us understand the natural world by asking questions and seeking evidence-based answers.
• Technology provides tools and systems that improve our daily lives.
• Engineering applies creativity and technical knowledge to design and build solutions.
• Mathematics helps us analyze data, identify patterns, and communicate information effectively.

When these disciplines work together, STEM drives innovation in areas such as agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, energy, healthcare, and communication.

Why is STEM Important?

STEM careers are among the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM occupations is projected to grow by 10.4% between 2023 and 2033, compared with 3.6% growth for non-STEM occupations, creating substantial opportunities for skilled workers and highlighting the increasing demand for STEM-related knowledge and skills.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. STEM Occupations: Employment and Projections, 2023-33. U.S. Department of Labor.

The impact of STEM can be seen everywhere. From the smartphones we use and the roads we travel on to medical advancements that improve health and save lives, STEM professionals help shape the world around us. Many of the products and services we rely on every day are the result of collaboration among scientists, engineers, technologists, and mathematicians.

As technology continues to evolve, the demand for STEM knowledge and skills continues to increase. Preparing students for STEM pathways helps build a workforce capable of solving future challenges while supporting economic growth and innovation.

STEM in Rural Communities / Rural STEM

Despite the growing demand for STEM professionals, students in rural communities often have less access to STEM experiences, resources, and career exploration opportunities than their urban counterparts (National Center for Education Statistics, 2023). Increasing access to STEM education helps bridge this gap and creates pathways to high-quality careers for all types of students in all communities.

To support these efforts, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Marion Technical College the IUSE grant to strengthen undergraduate STEM education and expand STEM opportunities in rural Marion County, Ohio. Through this initiative, students, educators, families, and community partners can connect to valuable resources, experiences, and pathways that support success in STEM fields.

RuralSTEM Catalyst

Empowering Students and Communities Through Innovation and STEM

Sponsoring Agency

• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Funding: $462,927
• Grant Timeline: 10/1/25 – 9/30/28

The Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports innovative projects that enhance the quality, effectiveness, and inclusiveness of undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The initiative encourages colleges and universities to develop and implement evidence-based teaching practices, curriculum improvements, and institutional strategies that deepen student engagement, improve learning outcomes, and prepare a diverse, capable STEM workforce for the future.

IUSE grants are structured around two main tracks — Engaged Student Learning and Institutional and Community Transformation — with varying levels of funding to support activities ranging from pilot innovations to large-scale systemic change. Projects funded through IUSE also aim to broaden participation in STEM, foster faculty development, and generate new knowledge about effective undergraduate STEM education that can benefit institutions nationwide.

Project Objectives

• Conduct an environmental scan of existing CCP partnerships with local high schools & articulation agreements with four-year institutions
• Develop & leverage comprehensive guided pathways in STEM programs that feature accessible information & various on-and-off ramps to meet students' unique needs.
• Establish a college STEM Club to support student success as measured by enrollment, retention, and completion metrics

For more information:  Award Details - NSF Award Search