Daniel Webster College takes the lead in responding to shortage of graduates in the STEM disciplines

There are few institutions sufficiently nimble and flexible that can quickly respond to national issues such as the precipitously declining availability of graduates in science, engineering, technology, and math-related disciplines (STEM).

Story after story in the higher education, business, and general media cite national and international data that demonstrate rising concern about the U.S. lagging behind other countries in these specific areas. This issue has become a "front of mind" challenge to business and educators across the country.

Daniel Webster College is well positioned to take the regional lead in New England and serve as a model for other higher education institutions that are developing "best practices" in creating and implementing STEM-based programming.

Since its founding in 1965, Daniel Webster College has been dedicated to the development of professionals in its chosen fields, fulfilling its pledge to its mission by focusing the education of the next generation of leaders for the College’s select niche of dynamic professions, including engineering, computer science, aviation, business and social science.

Daniel Webster is aligning its vision to reflect the industries it serves and the urgent regional and national needs for STEM-competent graduates and STEM-related programs. Critical to understanding this focus is the use of "STEM" as shorthand for describing a dedicated focus on programs that are grounded in the quantitative, scientific, and technological disciplines or that serve the needs of these industries. It provides one manner through which each new investment in program development and renewal may be assessed, although not necessarily the only means of assessment.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are not only highly relevant to the national economy, but to the regional economy to which Daniel Webster partners, and, in particular, to a stated focus of the New Hampshire High Technology Council. With the success of its engineering and computer science programs, the College is well positioned to continue to develop programming - and meet local and regional needs - in these STEM areas.

Daniel Webster’s Vision 2015 maintains that the college will be in the top quartile of small colleges in the nation that have mastered the balance of developing today’s workforce and preparing tomorrow’s workforce for careers in the STEM-related professions.

When accomplished, Daniel Webster will be known as the place to go for leaders and team players with quantitative and critical thinking skills who are ready to work in complex multi-disciplinary high technology settings.

While a STEM college becomes a focus, the College also established that it is critical to provide the best of an elite honors college experience to every DWC student. This includes such elements as

• Formal opportunities for leadership education
• Service Learning
• Intercultural education
• Systematic research opportunities

Thus, from the five years 2007 through 2011, the College’s mission remains: Daniel Webster College educates purposeful men and women for professional entry, advancement, and advanced studies in the fields of aviation, computer science, management, social science and engineering. Our students prepare through residential and continuing studies programs which emphasize the integration of Daniel Webster College theory and practice through interactive teaching and learning in the professional and liberal studies.