POTSDAM -- Clarkson University will continue offering the IMPETUS for Career Success program (Integrated Math and Physics for Entry to Undergraduate STEM) to eligible 7th-12th grade students. Recently, the university was awarded a New York State Department of Education Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) funding worth a total of nearly $1.6M for 2020-2025 to support IMPETUS.

STEP provides students with academic enrichment and research experience in science, mathematics, and technology content areas and consists of summer and academic year components. IMPETUS activities range from a computer programming game challenge, conducting original research projects for a statewide competition, interacting with college mentors and licensed STEM professionals, to designing and analyzing a model roller coaster.

On April 22, Earth Day, Clarkson’s IMPETUS (Integrated Mathematics and Physics for Entry to Undergraduate STEM) held its first virtual campus visit with roughly 90 attendees.

STEP has been in existence at Clarkson since 2006 and is funded jointly by the University to support 180 7-12th grade students annually. The program has traditionally served 11 school districts across St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Franklin Counties and this year they will be working with the Beacon Central School District with coordination by Asher Pacht and the Beacon Institute.