NEW YORK)—NBCU News Group’s multi-platform journalism training and development program, NBCU Academy, has significantly expanded its reach to 30 schools by adding 13 new partners. 

The expansion is notable because it includes engineering and STEM programs for the first time. 

The new 2022 cohort of participating institutions also grows NBCU Academy’s geographic footprint, diversifies the student population through specialized programs and expands beyond journalism to include business, engineering, technology and sports programs. 

NBCU Academy was launched by NBCUniversal News Group in January 2021 and is part of the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. 

The company announced that NBCU Academy will invest $2 million in grants to support the 13 new partner institutions. 

“The way we gather and consume news is consistently evolving,” said Yvette Miley, senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for NBCU News Group. “Through NBCU Academy, we’re forging a generation of diverse journalists that are ahead of the curve on media technologies and have a deep understanding of a range of industries.” 

Last year, NBCU Academy issued $6.5 million in funding to campuses–with 50% going directly to students. It established NBCUAcademy.com, and launched Original Voices, a fellowship program formed in partnership with NBC News Studios. 

Original Voices awarded seven diverse documentary filmmakers $315,000 in grants and access to NBCU News Group resources to support feature-length nonfiction films highlighting social issues and identities. Two of those films have been selected to premiere at Sundance in January 2022. 

NBCUAcademy.com also offers free online instruction and digital content for students. In the last year alone, NBCU Academy produced 65 online tutorials, hosted eight livestreams and generated more than 40 Original Equity Lab stories. Journalists and leadership across the NBCU News Group portfolio participated in NBCU Academy curriculum, providing access and insight to linear platforms, streaming channels, and digital, audio and social brands across NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo News and Peacock. 

Additionally, NBCU Academy developed an embed program, hiring six recent graduates from five NBCU Academy’s partner schools to work full-time for NBC News Digital’s award-winning diversity verticals, including NBC Asian America, NBCBLK, NBC Latino and NBC Out, as well as CNBC Make It and CNBC en Español. 

The embed program builds on NBCU Academy’s mission to provide more equitable access to diverse and marginalized communities that have been historically underrepresented in the news industry. 

It is also part of Project UP, Comcast NBCUniversal’s comprehensive effort to help build a future of unlimited possibilities by connecting people to the Internet, advancing economic mobility, and opening doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators. 

In June 2020, Comcast NBCUniversal announced a multi-year $100 million commitment to help address systemic racism and inequality. In July 2020, NBCU News Group Chairman Cesar Conde announced the Fifty Percent Challenge Initiative, an aggressive action plan to turn the NBCU News Group employee base to be 50% women and 50% people of color.

The 13 new academic partners include:

• Arizona State University Global Sport Institute in Tempe, Arizona
• Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix, Ariz.
• Community College of Philadelphia Division of Business and Technology​ in Philadelphia.
• Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Fla.
• Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication in Tallahassee, Fla.
• Howard University Cathy Hughes School of Communications in Washington, D.C.
• Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture in Washington, D.C.
• Montclair State University School of Communication and Media in Montclair, N.J.
• New Mexico State University College of Engineering in Las Cruces, N.M.
• New Mexico State University Department of Journalism and Media Studies in Las Cruces, N.M.
• Universidad del Sagrado Corazón Ferré Rangel School of Communications in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications in Gainesville, Fla.
• University of Texas at Arlington Department of Communication in Arlington, Texas.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—Recent data is showing a decline in the science, technology, engineering and math fields (STEM) that could create long-term economic problems for the U.S. and compound long-standing problems of getting girls and students from Black and Hispanic backgrounds involved in technology and STEM-related careers. 

That has prompted Caitlin Kalinowski, head of hardware for Oculus at Facebook Reality Labs to come out strongly in favor of better programs for mentoring students. 

A release highlighting her support for mentorship noted that recent National Student Clearinghouse Research Center study found that  college enrollment in physical science programs dropped by 7.6%, math and statistics saw a decline of 2.5% and engineering reported a decline of 3.5%.

The declines during the pandemic could exacerbate the long-standing problem of diversity in the engineering, tech and scientific fields. 

Various studies have shown that as girls progress through high school, their interest in STEM dwindles. Sixty percent of girls interested in STEM as ninth graders will not stay on that career path by high school graduation.

In addition, Black and Hispanic students leave their STEM major in college at a higher rate than white students—37% of Hispanic students leave STEM degrees, 40% for students of color and 29% of white students.(3) 

Caitlin Kalinowski argues that a lack of mentoring and guidance within STEM fields of study is one important reason for these declines. 

“Mentorships are integral to increasing minority interest and ensuring success,” Kalinowski explains. “”Many of the disparities we see with women and minorities in STEM come from waning interest over time, or concerns about getting involved in unknown academic arenas. Official mentoring programs are important, but more important is making a connection with someone and using that to drive the mentoring relationship,” 

Kalinowski believes that there are millions of brilliant minds not getting the attention and guidance they deserve. In order to better serve these groups (women, minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community and other underrepresented groups), she believes companies and schools need to provide mentors who look like them—who are also part of these groups. 

“Mentoring is a big issue because there's a lot of things that we don't formally teach about being in a STEM career in school or in your job training,” she said. “What you learn in school is one thing, but what you learn in your job is a whole different matter. It’s hard to buy a book and learn how to build your career.”

To address that issue, companies need to develop official mentoring programs, Kalinowski advises. However, it’s not just about pairing like-minded individuals. It’s about offering someone who has context. Often, that person will lead the mentee to understand projects better, and even describe a different way of looking at things, since they may have a higher degree of visibility across the whole organization. Plus, the mentors can use their network to make introductions that are vital to the young person’s development.

It is also crucial that mentors themselves are motivated. Often that has to do with finding the right people and getting the right levels of commitment. The goals have to be clearly defined. Equally as important is that the relationship must be bidirectional. The days of a lecturing mentor with a “do-as-I-say” attitude no longer works, she said. 

“Underrepresented groups in STEM want a mentor who will see the relationship as a two-way street, where the mentor can learn from the mentee just as much,” she said. “There has to be an exchange of ideas and there have to be many questions asked from both sides. The unidirectional, old-school way of looking at things is dated and stale. The mentor needs to feel that he or she is also getting something out of this. Both will grow and that benefits the organization and society as well.”

She highlighted a few keys to a successful mentoring program: 

• Have clear and defined goals and expectations.
• Mentors have to be willing to listen, not just speak.
• There needs to be a vetting process to ensure both mentors and mentee share the same goals and the same vision.
• The company has the obligation to institute official mentoring programs, but it also needs to encourage employees to seek out a mentor on their own. And once that happens, it is vital that the employer support the initiative with enough resources.
• Companies should not underestimate the value of apprenticeship programs.

 More information can be found here. 

NEW YORK—The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded The WNET Group a $2.9 million grant to expand the Cyberchase: Mobile Adventures in STEM.

The WNET pilot project reaches families through their mobile phones and works to engage Latinx and low-income families in math and environmental learning. 

The NSF grant will enable The WNET Group and Education Development Center (EDC) to expand the program and advance STEM learning in 6-8-year-olds by helping parents, particularly Latinx and low-income families, engage with their children in fun environmental science and math activities. 

Over the next three years, The WNET Group's Kids' Media & Education team will significantly expand the reach and impact of Cyberchase: Mobile Adventures in STEM by producing new Cyberchase videos focused on using math to learn about the environment and implementing a bilingual family learning program in 15 communities nationwide. 

Weekly texts will serve up activities and strategies that encourage STEM learning at home and are designed to be culturally responsive and inclusive. EDC will conduct research into the use and impact of the program among diverse low-income Latinx families and assess their needs and interests regarding informal learning and media.

"By deploying innovative outreach strategies through its mobile texting program, Cyberchase: Mobile Adventures in STEM has great potential for engaging families and children in STEM content and activities," said Dr. Lori Takeuchi, program officer at the National Science Foundation. "The earlier you can inspire children's interests in STEM, the greater the chances they will pursue STEM pathways. This project opens up new possibilities for igniting these early interests and broadening future participation in STEM learning and careers."

Cyberchase, which is America's longest running math series, has engaged millions of children ages 6-8 in the fun and challenge of math for nearly 20 years. 

When I realized I did not want to stay on a career path to become a teacher while pursuing a degree in Secondary Education Art Education and Music, I was approaching my senior year at the University of Nebraska— Lincoln. The epiphany came while working at the Physics & Astronomy Department at UNL and I was introduced to computer programming. I was working with their business manager on budgets for NFS grants. He pointed me to the computer lab and I started work on card key punch machine to build my first program.

I finally landed at the local public broadcasting facility in Nebraska, NET. That was 30 years ago and the technology changes we experienced during this time were nothing short of spectacular, Moore’s Law exemplified.

I purchased the first computerized traffic system shortly after I started and the progress the institution has made has been remarkable. In 2001, I became the first female engineering director when I was hired to manage the Information Systems Division. I was fortunate that our CTO Michael Beach gave me the opportunity. He opened the door and I never looked back. Mike is now the vice president for distribution at NPR.

Frankly, I never identified myself as any different from my counterparts. At the end of the day all the Engineering Division directors were tasked with effectively managing our departments to support NET’s institutional strategic priorities.

One counterpart in engineering joked with me shortly after I was hired, asking “Did I plan on replacing the Ethernet cabling with pink cables?”

I realized this was an opportunity to break the ice and I replied “How soon do you want that?” We both smiled and I never looked back.

My passion for technology and team building skills propelled the department forward. A few years ago, we hired the first female CTO at NET, Ling Ling Sun. The one aspect that became clear over the years is that very few women were applying for jobs in engineering. I realized I wanted to change that.

This May, the Lincoln Children’s Museum and University of Nebraska sponsored an event “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.” I attended with my granddaughter, Lexi. One of her elementary school projects was building a robot that would shoot a ball into a basketball hoop. She was fascinated with robots and I wanted to feed that spark she had for technology.

The best part of that day was the hands-on time she had experimenting with mentors. She built a circuit that could light up a window on a greeting card that she made. She was thrilled when it worked. Her mother had just run a half marathon that morning and she told me she was going to give it to her to tell her how proud she was of her.

I realized that the most important role I have as an engineer is to encourage her generation who have a passion for technology to know that nothing can hold them back if they believe in themselves. They can do anything... including being an engineer.

WASHINGTON--Interested in a technical career at the Federal Communications Commission? Are you currently an engineering student or recent grad from an engineering school? If so, the new FCC Honors Engineer Program may be exactly what you are looking for.

The new program—intended to attract newly minted engineers to public policy work in the communications field—is a one-year career development program. At the end of the program, participants will be eligible for consideration for continued employment at the FCC.

“The digital revolution is rapidly transforming virtually every aspect of American life,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said. “And it’s changing the FCC’s work, too. Many of the issues we confront today are technically complex.”

Honors Program engineers may work in several different areas, including:

· New communications technology and services, such as Next-Gen TV, 5G and the Internet of Things;

· Deployment of broadband service nationwide, including in rural areas;

· Finding technologies to improve communications services for all Americans, especially those with disabilities;

· Public safety communications technologies;

· Policy development to encourage innovation and investment in new communications devices and services.

The FCC will consider many criteria when evaluating candidates, including academic achievement, technical skills and extracurricular activities as well as a demonstrated interest in government service and/or the communications sector.

To learn more, visit the FCC website.