Pillar 4: Equity and Accessibility in STEM Statewide

Progress Updates

IMSA’s impact goes beyond its campus. This pillar highlights our commitment to expanding fair access to STEM education across Illinois, especially for students from diverse cultural, language, and economic backgrounds. Through partnerships, outreach, and innovative programs, IMSA works to close equity gaps and ensure that the future of STEM reflects the diversity and talent of our state.

Second Quarter 2025-2026

This quarter, IMSA advanced its statewide mission to broaden access to high-quality STEM learning, particularly for students from culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse backgrounds. Through expanded programming, strengthened partnerships, and increased outreach, we continue to reduce barriers and create pathways that reflect the diversity of talent across Illinois.Highlights include:

  • PROMISE Program Growth & Pathway Development
    PROMISE saw strong interest for the spring session with 305 seventh-grade and 60 eighth-grade applications submitted. In addition, IMSA received 72 tutor applications, including 32 former PROMISE participants, demonstrating a powerful and expanding pipeline of alumni returning to serve and uplift the next generation of learners.

  • SRELO Recruitment & Engagement
    Three SRELO information sessions were held in January for sophomores and juniors. We also staffed a table during the electives fair to answer questions and promote opportunities.
    IMSA identified four faculty mentors for SRELO 2026 and secured 12 higher education and industry partners—seven of which are Illinois colleges or universities. Students participating in SRELO will prepare research summaries for Digital Commons, strengthening authentic research and dissemination skills.

  • AI Learning Opportunities for Students

    The online AI Credential course launched on schedule to help meet the statewide demand for accessible AI education.

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First Quarter 2025

All outreach and online programs are posted on the website, including the new asynchronous online AI Credential course. Registration is open for IMSA’s new semester-long, asynchronous AI Credential course available FREE for all Illinois high school students aimed at exploring the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI).  The course features weekly office hour opportunities facilitated by IMSA CS Faculty and runs Jan. 12, 2026 – May 29, 2026. Students will receive a certificate upon completion of the course.

There are two online courses currently in progress: Survey of Science and RISE. There are plans for a spring Research Fundamentals and Algebra Skills course for IMSA Scholars.

Plans are underway for SRELO 2026. Previous and new mentors are being contacted to serve as host sites.

The PROMISE program is being offered at all Innovation Hubs in Spring 2026, including SIUC, SIUE, and Dominican University locations.

Leadership is meeting with the University of Chicago and SIUE on additional dual credit opportunities.

Contact

Adrienne Coleman, Ed.D.

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Unity
Tel: 630.907.5079
acoleman@imsa.edu
View Biography