Caterpillar Inc. has awarded a $1.04 million grant to Alvernia University’s Total Experience Learning (TExpL) Institute. The grant will enable Alvernia to expand STEM education and educator development that is aligned with workforce needs.
This two-year initiative will be initially launched with Berks County school districts, with plans to scale the initiative to additional regions aligned with the CAT dealer network and community footprint, according to a press release.
“Preparing students for future careers starts with supporting educators,” Adelle Schade, Ph.D., Alvernia University chief innovation officer and founder of the Total Experience Learning Institute said in a statement. “This collaboration helps teachers deliver relevant, real-world learning while working with industry experts to support the complexities of business and industry talent needs.”
The program addresses two challenges affecting workforce readiness: declining student proficiency in foundational STEM skills, resulting in a shortage of skill-ready talent for open positions in skilled trades; and the increasing challenges of finding and retaining qualified educators, according to Alvernia.
Through a structured, four-course graduate certificate and ongoing professional support services, Total Experience Learning equips educators to provide instruction that strengthens problem-solving, innovation, and applied learning, according to the release.
Caterpillar will support alignment between classroom learning and workforce priorities, helping students understand career pathways in STEM, advanced manufacturing, and technology-related fields. The program is designed with a phased funding model that builds district ownership, collaboration, and sustainability beyond the initial grant period, the release said.
“This collaboration reflects Caterpillar’s commitment to supporting the people and communities where our company lives and operates,” Asha Varghese, head of corporate social responsibility at Caterpillar, said in a statement. “By strengthening educator capacity and student engagement in STEM learning, the program will help students develop the skills they need for long-term economic growth and will deepen our core belief in the Power of Everyone,”
Total Experience Learning is a comprehensive professional development program designed to support and empower teachers through targeted coursework and leadership training. The program’s goal is to equip educators with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in the classroom and beyond, according to the release.
Prior implementations of Total Experience Learning have demonstrated strong outcomes in educator engagement and instructional effectiveness, Alvernia said, with 97 percent of participating educators reporting they would repeat the training. In addition, districts report improvements in instructional quality and educator retention, key factors in long-term student success.
Over the two-year project period, the initiative is expected to directly serve more than 9,200 students and educators and indirectly benefit more than 18,000 family and community members, contributing to improved school stability, workforce readiness, and regional economic vitality.
For more information, visit www.alvernia.edu/texpl.