To make Iowa elementary students better prepared for future academic and career opportunities, Des Moines Area Community College President Rob Denson and Drake University President David Maxwell have signed an agreement to improve competencies of future teachers in math and science.

The agreement creates the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Certificate for elementary education students who start at DMACC and pursue their four-year degree at Drake University. The Certificate is the first STEM agreement between a four-year institution and a community college in Iowa.

“We want Iowa teachers to have 21st century competencies in math and science so they can inspire and better engage their students,” said Denson, who is on the governor’s STEM Advisory Executive Committee. “This is a practical, important application of the governor’s STEM initiative.”