Institute for Rural Education and Development

Rural school districts need a unique approach for incorporating STEM education and healthy development methodologies into their classrooms. Our collaborative, iterative research allows us to develop and measure new methods in conjunction with educators. Together, we expand on their school's strengths while working with their available resources to support students' futures.

A Comprehensive Approach to Rural Education and Healthy Development Research

Our research team focuses on the developmental health and STEM education exposure of rural students from early childhood through early adolescence, preschool through high school and beyond. School and career readiness is rooted in developmental milestones like motor function, social and emotional behavior and computational and literacy skills. Likewise, students' pursuit of STEM careers begins with awareness of and exposure to those fields from an early age onward.

By combining developmental skill building with STEM career opportunities in the classroom, we seek to create and measure new methodologies for rural schools as a collaborative team. We then test and iterate our findings in real classrooms alongside the real educators who teach in them.

Meet Faculty Researchers & Team »

Schools and teachers play a big role in educating and motivating rural students to pursue STEM coursework and seek out careers that utilize these skills. Our institute can provide students, parents, schools, communities and policymakers with sound research to set up our state for success.

Matthew J. Irvin, Ph.D., Institute Director

Institute Stories and News

Research Institutes Funding Program

Sponsored by the offices of the USC President and Vice President for Research, the Research Institutes Funding Program invested an unprecedented $10 million in internal funding for new research institutes, including the Institute for Rural Education and Development.

The 2nd IMMERSE Cohort Mentorship is Underway

The second cohort of the IMMERSE Research Collaborative met for their intensive training institute this summer. After the training concluded, the researchers agreed again that a year-long mentorship would help them significantly in their work in their school districts back at home. The mentorship allows researchers to share knowledge, get support for trying new methods and measure their success in healthy development and STEM education initiatives.

The Institute's Mission

The mission of our research is to create a comprehensive, holistic model of STEM education and healthy development for rural students from early childhood to adolescence.

Research Projects

By taking an interdisciplinary approach to rural education, we will advance our understanding of how STEM learning and healthy development in rural areas can be measured, how existing strengths can be expanded and how the specific needs of rural students can be met.

SC Impact

While this research improves the rural education system in South Carolina—a high percentage of the state's schools—certain areas will benefit greatly from the institute's work.

Areas Especially Benefited by the Research

STEM Career Exposure
Workforce Development
Developmental Skill Building
Teacher Support

A Priority for the University of South Carolina

This institute is part of the university's Research Institutes Funding Program, an undertaking for top researchers in their fields across disciplines and focus areas to consciously and intentionally collaborate to uncover new approaches, breakthroughs, and real-world results in their areas of research.

These projects truly represent what a flagship research university does best: bring together experts from multiple disciplines to take on some of the biggest scientific and societal challenges of our time.

USC President Michael Amiridis

Funding Acknowledgement

Funding for this interdisciplinary research institute was generously provided by the USC Office of the President and Office of the Vice President for Research.

More About the Research Institutes Funding Program

STEM Education and Healthy Development in Rural Schools

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.