Unite, an initiative in the AEOP portfolio, is a pre-collegiate, academic, summer program for rising 9th through rising 12th grade students from groups historically part of priority populations in STEM. The program is designed to encourage and help prepare students to pursue college-level studies and, ultimately, careers in engineering and related STEM fields.

Unite is administered by the Technology Student Association (TSA), a national non-profit organization of middle and high school students engaged in STEM. TSA was chartered in 1978, and since then over 2,000,000 students have participated in its program of activities. Members apply and integrate STEM concepts through competitive events, leadership endeavors, co-curricular activities, and related programs. TSA is facilitating the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to solicit entities to serve as 2024 and 2025 (a two-year cycle) Unite host sites.

The Unite program is designed to give students the opportunity to:

• Gain a better understanding of the real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
• Overcome negative attitudes and perceptions they may have about cultural, social, and other barriers to STEM studies and careers;
• Gain confidence in their ability to participate in engineering and other STEM activities;
• Engage in activities that promote collaboration and problem solving in a team environment; and
• Be better prepared to pursue engineering and STEM in college and, ultimately, in future careers.

The 2024-2025 Unite program should provide a summer experience for rising 9th through rising 12th grade students from priority populations, in which they are exposed to academics and enrichment that will best help them achieve their goals of higher education and careers in STEM.

Learn more about Unite here. Responses to the RFP are due no later than 5:00 pm ET on Monday, December 4, 2023. Read the full RFP here.