Stephanie Wallace, the assistant director of SUNY Oswego’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), is furthering her professional development and ability to serve students through a New York Education Policy Leadership Program (NY EPLP) fellowship. 

"I wanted to find an opportunity to expand how to better aid students in the higher education setting,” Wallace said. “I also wanted to understand the ins and outs of our educational policies and the need to advocate for change so we are serving all students.”

NY EPLP was established in 1981-82 as a program opportunity for education leaders with a desire to work against inequality issues and improve education policy. The programs are held once a month, every Friday, for seven months, through Zoom sessions with other educators.

Wallace said to change the higher education system, you need to first understand the structures and opportunities already in place. She wants to fill the gaps students need to be successful while seeking higher education. 

Participants work on projects that include different ideas to improve the system.

“We will begin to discuss forming groups to present our educational policy projects which will take place towards the end of our Fellowship year,” Wallace said.

Providing opportunities 

Working in CSTEP, which provides opportunities for students, gives Wallace ongoing experience putting what she is learning into practice.

Established in 1986 by the New York State Department of Education, CSTEP is an entry-level opportunity program with access to different resources, whose purpose is to create a sense of community. The program supports historically underrepresented students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields or pursuing professional licensure.

Wallace said the main purpose of this program is to bring students from underserved and diverse communities into spaces they would not have otherwise been seen. A New York State Department of Education grant supports this program. Wallace and the CSTEP Director Christina Seado Vasquez, find ways to stretch that grant to make the most impact for those students.

Olivia Odigie is a senior who has been involved in CSTEP since her freshman year. She said this program helped her build professionalism along with strengthening her leadership skills for her chosen career field, occupational therapy. She has also received real-life experience within her field of study by interning through this program.

“CSTEP has helped me become more comfortable on campus,” Olivia Odigie said. “I’ve been given a variety of opportunities to practice leadership skills and graduating from Oswego will definitely take a lot of those skills with me.”

This program does more than just help students professionally. They form a connection through mentorship to help students through hardships too. CSTEP has an open office for students to utilize for more than just studying.

“CSTEP is like a family to me,” said Vanessa Rodriguez, a senior in CSTEP. “They’ve always been there when I needed them the most. Through my time of distress, I always come in and I talk about my problems and they’re always here to support me.” 

This program works as a support system for students, offering not only academic and professional guidance but also a sense of belonging that extends beyond the classroom.

For more information on SUNY Oswego’s CSTEP, visit oswego.edu/CSTEP.

 

– Written by Roxana Dolores of the Class of 2024