Univision joins President Obama on Change the Equation.

Univision Communications Inc. announced today that it is joining Change the Equation (CTEq), a CEO-led initiative to cultivate widespread literacy in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as part of its multi-year, comprehensive education initiative Es El Momento (The Moment is Now). CTEq will not only achieve the President’s Educate to Innovate campaign mission to increase private and philanthropic involvement in STEM education, but also will meet a critical need for a workforce and a citizenry fluent in science and math.

Change the Equation is bringing together top companies like Univision Communications Inc. across multiple sectors, all of which are dedicated to preparing students for STEM-related careers as an investment in their business, the economy and our democracy. Through innovative and effective company-led programs, Univision Communications Inc. and CTEq aim to fill the opportunity gap with capable and enthusiastic STEM-literate young people. It is the first and only STEM education group that brings so many corporate leaders together in collaboration with the White House, State Houses nationwide, and the foundation community. Univision Communications Inc. joins Board members Time Warner Cable, Sally Ride Science, Kodak, Intel, Xerox and ExxonMobil.

“At Univision we recognize that investing in education is imperative to our country’s future which is why we launched Es El Momento earlier this year,” said Joe Uva, president and CEO of Univision Communications Inc. “We believe that our collaboration with Change the Equation is important as we look to help connect Hispanic students with the resources to prepare for college, and to encourage them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines that will fuel our global competitiveness.”

According to a report by the Center on Education and the Workforce, there will be eight million jobs available in STEM-related fields by 2018. However, the report also finds that the next generation of employees in America will be unprepared to take advantage of these positions.

America’s problem with math—which is the entry point into science, technology and engineering—is not solely rooted in academic skill. It may be indicative of a deeper cultural norm. According to a recent survey commissioned by CTEq, nearly three in ten adults believe they are not good at math. The problem is especially acute in younger Americans. More than half of Americans aged 18 to 36 admit that they often find themselves saying they can’t do math. Americans’ attitudes toward math were so negative that thirty percent would prefer cleaning the bathroom to doing a math problem.

“‘I can’t do math’ has become an iconic excuse in our society,” said Linda Rosen, Chief Executive Officer of CTEq. “Many Americans have expressed it, but I don’t believe it’s an accurate reflection of who we are, or, more importantly, what we can do.”

Rosen continued, “If we don’t encourage our children and students to get excited about math as well as science, technology and engineering, we are denying them the chance to reach their potential, and be prepared for a future filled with opportunity.”

Rosen announced that CTEq will establish a set of criteria that guides the organization and its member companies in defining program success. “It has been said that conscience is a person’s compass,” Rosen said. “CTEq can and will fire the nation’s conscience on STEM education. We will monitor our own progress and the progress of others, identifying what is working and what isn’t. CTEq will apply the lessons we learn so that the nation continues to move towards a future where every American is literate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

CTEq has an ambitious agenda for its first year, including creating a snapshot of existing STEM investments by its 100 member companies to establish a baseline of STEM programs. Univision is integrating the STEM initiative into Es El Momento, its comprehensive, multi-platform, three-year national education initiative aimed at improving academic achievement among K-12 Hispanic students. This effort has a specific focus on increasing rates of high school graduation, college readiness, college completion and engaging Hispanic parents and the broader community in these efforts.

CTEq also will create a self-evaluation mechanism for member companies to measure the effectiveness of their STEM programs. It will also launch an ambitious plan to initiate a core set of very effective programs in 100 new sites across the country to broaden the philanthropic reach of CTEq members and to create a state-by-state scorecard that can assess the condition of STEM education in all 50 states.

CTEq evolved as a result of the first Educate to Innovate Event in November 2009, when President Obama named five leading business and thought leaders (Sally Ride, Craig Barrett, Ursula Burns, Glen Britt, and Antonio Perez) to head an effort to improve American student participation and performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Carnegie Corporation of New York and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation generously provided challenge grants to launch the organization.

CTEq’s goals are to:

1. Improve STEM teaching at all grade levels, with a larger and more racially, ethnically and gender-diverse pool of highly-capable STEM teachers.
2. Deepen student appreciation and excitement for STEM programs and careers to increase enrollment and success, especially among females and students of color.
3. Achieve a sustained commitment to the STEM movement from business leaders, government officials, STEM teachers and other stakeholders through communication, collaboration and data-based decision making.