Precollege Programs
SMILE
Our Mission
Our mission is to increase underrepresented students’ success in STEM degree programs and careers, and deliver high-quality teacher professional development.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide a broad range of pathway programs to help underrepresented students succeed in STEM degrees and careers. We provide professional development resources that create better teachers.
SMILE's Essential Attributes
1. Inclusive Community
We provide a safe and supportive place for participants to engage in challenging activities and risk failure.
2. High Expectations
We promote participants' creativity and learning through hands-on, minds-on activities.
3. Positive Attitudes
We help participants develop and sustain confidence in their capacity to learn and succeed.
4. Continuous Improvement
We assess our programming and make changes to better meet the needs of our participants and our school district partners.
2024 Summer Teacher Workshop Highlights
For our workshop field trip day on August 6, we took a break from the summer heat and traveled to Newport!
Spring Challenge Events Wrap-up
A total of 530 SMILE members participated in Challenge events and spent time on one or more college campuses this spring!
Students Call Local Fish Biologist
Riverside Elementary School's SMILE club recently zoomed with a local fish biologist. They had a great time getting to learn from someone in the field!
Broader Impacts and Engagement Efforts
SMILE works with faculty members on campus and other programs to bring a broad range of STEM content to K-12 classrooms and through SMILE Clubs. The SMILE Program adopted the National Science Foundation (NSF) Broader Impact perspectives, aligning with the guidelines developed by the National Alliance for Broader Impacts (NABI) and supporting the mission of The Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS). SMILE provides a solid structure for broader impact activities through robust K-12 relationships and innovative partnerships with researchers and educators.