Partnerships between universities and high schools for student success
CLIMB (Collaborative Laboratory Internship and Mentoring Blueprint)
Founded in 2015 through a partnership between the University of Missouri–St. Louis and the Jennings School District, CLIMB was created to expand access to paid, hands-on research experiences for high-achieving students in North St. Louis County.
Dr. Patricia Parker, Professor Emerita and former director of the Harris World Ecology Center, co-founded the program with Dr. Rhonda Key. UMSL faculty began working with district administrators and designed a model demonstrating how urban universities and public school districts can work together to broaden pathways into STEM, higher education, and professional careers.
What began with students from Jennings Senior High School has since expanded to include five Saint Louis County districts: Jennings, Hazelwood, Ritenour, Riverview Gardens, and University City. At present, participation is available only to students from our partner school districts.
PROGRAM EXPERIENCE
CLIMB is a six-week, paid summer internship. Students work 40 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, embedded within active research groups across disciplines including chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, education, mathematics, computer science — and in some years, music.
Interns gain:
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Hands-on laboratory and technical skills
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Exposure to real-world research environments
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Mentorship from faculty and graduate students
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Professional workplace experience
Fridays are dedicated to professional development. Students participate in workshops on college access, scholarship applications, financial literacy, public speaking, and presentation skills. Throughout the summer, they go on field trips to organizations to engage directly with guest speakers from diverse professions.
The program culminates in a formal research presentation attended by family members, school leaders, UMSL administrators, and faculty mentors.
To ensure equitable participation, interns are paid $15 per hour and receive Metro passes to cover transportation costs.
IMPACT
Since its launch, CLIMB has served over 100 students and continues to build a strong pipeline into higher education and STEM fields.
Of the 22 students from the 2016 and 2017 cohorts, 19 enrolled in colleges and universities across eight states. The internship experience helped strengthen their academic preparation, professional confidence, and college readiness.
CLIMB’s success reflects a sustained, collaborative partnership among university faculty and district leadership, including Dr. Patricia Parker, Dr. Rhonda Key, and Dr. Miranda Ming, whose administrative leadership was instrumental in the program’s establishment and expansion.
LEARN MORE
We welcome conversations with prospective partners, supporters, and community members. We would be glad to connect you with program directors or alumni who can share firsthand perspectives on CLIMB’s impact.
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