The Division of Educational Programs (DEP), headquartered at the Center for Advanced Space Studies in Houston, supports the Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative (STEDI), the Johnson Space Center Student Programs for Achievements in Careers and Education (SPACE) and the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Summer Researchers Program. DEP personnel at the USRA Huntsville Office provide management services for the NASA/University Joint Venture (JOVE) Program .
STUDENT EXPLORER DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE (STEDI)
The Student Explorer Demonstration Initiative (STEDI) is a pilot program designed to assess the efficacy of smaller, low-cost space-flight missions and to test the proposition that a complement of missions in this class can be ideally matched to the traditional processes of research and development at the nation's universities. The expected cost of a STEDI mission, excluding the costs of launch vehicle and associated launch services, is less than $4.4 million.
THE SPACE JOB OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
The JSC Student Programs for Achievements in Careers and Education (SPACE) provides clerical job opportunities at JSC for economially disadvantaged youth from nearby communities. USRA assists JSC in the management of this program, in which approximately 45-50 students in their senior year of high school are given part-time jobs during the school year and full-time jobs during vaction pertiods, therby encouraging them to contiue their schooling as well as providing valuable work experience at a major government science and engineering center.
JSC SUMMER RESEARCHERS PROGRAM
The DEP and NASA/JSC are cooperating in a pilot program to bring teachers and students to JSC to contribute to ongoing research, and to revitalize their interest in space studies. The Summer Researchers Program arose from the continuing commitment of NASA and USRA to strengthen academic partnerships and encourage educational leadership. During 1994, six undergraduate students participated.
NASA/UNIVERSITY JOINT VENTURE IN RESEARCH (JOVE)
The JOVE program builds research capabilities and broadens academic participation in space science and technology through partnerships between NASA and institutions of higher education that have had little or no prior involvement in the nation's space program. JOVE also enhances university curricula via the integration of aerospace topics into the classroom and enhances public science literacy through outreach activities.