⊕ Multi-year • Cohort-based • Career-ready
Advanced Saturday STEMM learning—built for persistence, readiness, and real-world impact.
Sept-Apr
One Saturday per month
3 Years
Sequence-based progression
6 hours
Monthly instructional block
Up to 9
Undergraduate credit hours
STEMM Scholars Academy Plus (STEMM Plus) deepens student mastery across high-impact domains—Mathematics, Public Health, AI & Communications, Biochemistry, and Anatomy—while connecting scholars to renowned faculty and college-aligned learning.
Start with STEM—and go anywhere.
Program Overview
What STEMM Plus delivers for scholars and families.
College-aligned learning
Structured content, monthly assignments, and cumulative learning designed to build academic confidence and readiness.
∗Rigor + Support ∗Monthly cadence ∗Assessment-ready
Leadership + advocacy skills
Scholars practice communication, teamwork, and civic awareness—learning how systems and policy shape health and opportunity.
∗Presentation-ready ∗Team-based learning ∗Community focus
Renowned faculty in front of scholars
Volunteer lecturers and professional experts bring real-world credibility, relevance, and inspiration—without losing instructional quality.
∗Guest lecturers ∗Applied examples ∗Career pathways
Equity-centered outcomes
STEMM Plus is designed to expand opportunity and strengthen STEMM identity for Illinois students—especially those historically underrepresented and/or under-resourced.
∗Belonging ∗Persistence ∗Pathway building
Program Structure
Sequence-based progression across three academic years.
Sequence 1 • Rising Sophomores
Foundational concepts, vocabulary, and core skills. Builds confidence, identity, and baseline literacy in each track.
∗Foundation ∗Study skills ∗Team norms
Sequence 3 • Rising Seniors
Capstone-ready synthesis: policy, ethics, research literacy, and public-facing communication. Prepares scholars for postsecondary success.
∗Capstone ∗College readiness ∗Leadership
Sequence 2 • Rising Juniors
Applied learning through case studies and systems thinking. Animal anatomy begins in Sequence 2 for comparative understanding.
∗Case-based ∗Comparative anatomy ∗Projects
Learning environment
Monthly in-person sessions plus guided reading, short assignments, and optional extension resources delivered via an LMS.
∗In-person ∗Moodle-ready ∗Month between classes
Academic Calendar
Monthly Saturday • September through April • 6 hour sessions
September
Kickoff • norms • baseline assessment • how to navigate the LMS.
Goal: align expectations and build momentum.
October
Core content block • applied activity • take-home quiz.
Goal: connect concepts to lived experience.
November
Core content block • applied activity • take-home quiz.
Goal: connect concepts to lived experience.
December
Case study • group exercise • short presentation practice.
Goal: strengthen systems thinking and communication.
January
Policy/ethics lens • data interpretation • skill-building lab.
Goal: deepen reasoning and civic awareness.
February
Project build • feedback • revision cycle.
Goal: iterate toward a high-quality deliverable.
March
Term synthesis • showcase rehearsal • next-step planning.
Goal: iterate toward a high-quality deliverable.
April
Close out • presentations • post assessment.
Goal: capstone-ready performance and reflection.
Request Information
Interested in STEMM Plus?
Send a note and we’ll follow up.
Faculty volunteers: If you’re interested in serving as a guest lecturer, please include your domain (e.g., Public Health, Environmental & Global Health, Health Policy, AI & Communications, Biochem, Anatomy).