1 Veterans in STEM June Challenge Opening Session KC BANCS is supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF Award Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.

2 What is Veterans in S.T.E.M.? Academic and career support program for veterans majoring in STEM fields Designed to meet veterans at critical junctures Provides veterans with a network of resources & opportunities Find out what resources and benefits are available to use to reach your STEM career goals

3 Why Veterans? Why S.T.E.M.? NSF wants to attract more veterans to the STEM fields Veterans are an untapped, STEM- capable workforce The U.S. has a national priority to increase our STEM workforce STEM college degrees are a great investment in yourself

4 S.T.E.M. Capable Workforce STEM means jobs By some counts 2-3 million positions are unfilled because companies can’t find workers with technical skills. 2-year degree in STEM field worth more than 4-year liberal arts

5 Career Readiness Support for Veterans STEM is not one field, it’s a collection of fields How does military experience fit in the STEM job market? Need some training or skills to reach your goals? How to figure out higher education. So many opportunities and resources – select some, network, and forge a path

6 Overview of Events BUILD YOUR ONLINE PORTFOLIO TRANSLATING MILITARY EXPERIENCES TO CIVILIAN PRACTICES NETWORKING WITH STEM INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO BOOST YOUR NETWORKING NAVIGATING HIGHER EDUCATION STEM TALKS BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND WORK-LIFE-COLLEGE BALANCE PROFESSIONAL DINNER ALL EVENTS ARE FREENETWORKING PRIMERMIX & MATCH

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8 Open Badges Premises: Learning happens everywhere. Individuals who can demonstrate that they learn in and apply their learning in different settings have the skills employers want. Resumes are no longer enough to impress an employer. Here’s why: resumes are documents jobseekers have written themselves. They are difficult for employers to validate. ePortfolios go a step further so the job seeker can demonstrate his or her learning and accomplishments. Earning a digital badge goes even further because an employer can click on the digital badge and find out what an applicant did to earn it.

9 Earn Up to Five Open Badges ePortfolio – This Open Badge documents that the June Challenge participant has learned what an ePortfolio is, how to represent himself or herself in a professional manner through an ePortfolio, and has successfully built and published an ePortfolio. workshops. Networking – This Open Badge documents that the June Challenge participant has learned about networking specific to STEM careers and has applied the new knowledge through practice sessions. STEM Talks – This Open Badge documents that the June Challenge participant has taken a leadership role in actively learning about transition to civilian careers in STEM and participating in community conversations to share his or her own experience and knowledge. STEM Career Insight – This Open Badge documents that the June Challenge participant has taken an interest in learning as much as possible about building a successful career in the STEM fields. June Challenge – This Open Badge documents that the June Challenge participant has gone above and beyond the basic requirements for taking the June Challenge. Earning this badge exemplified leadership and a desire to excel in a STEM career.

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