K-12 Programs
The College of Engineering and Polymer Science offers a variety of K-12 programs for future engineers and scientists who are interested in engineering, engineering technology, computing, and polymers. We believe that young people should be given opportunities – beyond the classroom – to interact with and explore the exciting world of STEM.
High School Visits
We welcome large high school and community groups for on-campus visits. Students will tour facilities, meet with current students, and explore the Akron Engineering and Computing Experience. Group tours are available for groups of 8 or more. Students must be in 10th-12th grade. Interested groups must fill out a Group Tour Request Form.
Summer Experience in Engineering Camp
Summer Experience in Engineering Camp has just about everything for high school students interested in learning more about aerospace systems, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, corrosion, electrical and mechanical engineering.
This week-long summer camp, hosted by the Women in Engineering Program (WIEP), is for students entering grades 9-12. From tours to local engineering firms to hands-on projects, along with social activities, WIEP provides the ideal environment for campers to embark on engineering studies and make new friends.
Day Camp Cost: $350
Scholarships are provided to families with financial needs.
Contact us at CEPSDiversity@uakron.edu.
June 5-9, 2023. Registration is closed.
Inquire! Innovate! Invent!
Spark your creative side! This event, hosted by the Women In Engineering Program, is for girls & boys in 6th-10th grade and girls who are Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts. The program is designed to teach participants about the impact of innovations of women and inspire them to become inventors too. Interactive and innovative workshops will showcase women and involve participants in projects that relate to STEM careers.
Registration opens in September 2023.
Contact us at CEPSDiversity@uakron.edu.
B-STEM
The B-STEM program is offered through a generous donation from Mr. and Mrs. Raymond and Sylvia Lee. The free, five-week B-STEM program is for 7th and 8th grade students interested in STEM and business who attend East Community Learning Center in the Akron Public Schools District.
This program is offered in the spring semester of 2023 through 2025.
SWE Shadow Day
Organized by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) UA Student Chapter, SWE Shadow Day is an opportunity for young women from local high schools to shadow a student at the College of Engineering and Polymer Science. Event participants will attend engineering classes, visit design team rooms, explore The University of Akron campus, and learn from current engineering students about their co-op experience!
Registration opens in January 2024.
Future Earth Event
Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) UA Student Chapter holds Future Earth for middle school students each April. This is a fun and educational event that aims to initiate and/or foster a passion for sustainability and STEM in young adults through design competitions, educational presentations and meeting current role models in the STEM field.
Kids Career Day
This event, hosted by the Women In Engineering Program, introduces children in 1st-6th grade to careers in STEM. Students participate in fun activities, such as shooting a paper rocket in the air using Alka Seltzer and water to better understand chemical reactions. Students have also made roller coasters using insulation tubes and marbles to learn about kinetic energy.
Registration opens in January 2024.
Contact us at CEPSDiversity@uakron.edu.
ASM Materials Camp® - Teachers
This week-long, hands-on lab experience shows educators how to use applied engineering techniques in their classroom. ASM Materials Camp®-Teachers is an idea-generating workshop introducing teachers to methods that make math and core science principles more enticing and relevant to their middle and high school students. Materials topics are great motivators in any engineering, technology or science course as students learn concepts that are reflected in their everyday lives.
This video was filmed at The University of Akron during the 2022 camp.
Akron Global Polymer Academy
The Akron Global Polymer Academy provides opportunities for teachers and students of all ages to experience the exciting world of polymers through a variety of offerings, including: in-school visits featuring engaging hands-on demonstrations, polymer family science nights, field trips to our exciting polymer research school, and many polymer-related classroom resources available through their educational website.
