CSM Launches North Point STEM Pathway, Works With Counties On Hughesville Training Access

LA PLATA, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland is expanding partnerships with local school systems to create new education and workforce pathways for high school students, including a North Point High School STEM engineering track and efforts to connect students to hands-on training in Hughesville.

During a State of the College briefing to the Charles County Board of Commissioners on Monday, March 10, 2025, CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson said the college recently finalized a memorandum of understanding with Charles County Public Schools establishing an engineering pathway that will allow students to progress from North Point High School’s STEM program to CSM and then to the University of Maryland, College Park.

“We recently finalized an MOU with Charles County Public Schools to do a STEM engineering pathway from North Point through CSM to College Park,” Wilson told commissioners.

The initiative is designed to give students a clearer academic route into engineering and other science and technology careers while strengthening collaboration between local school systems and higher education institutions.

Wilson also told commissioners the college is working with Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s county school systems to expand workforce training opportunities at the Center for Trades and Energy Training at CSM’s Regional Hughesville Campus.

The effort would allow high school students to travel to the Hughesville facility during the school day to participate in skilled trades programs, including welding, HVAC and electrical training.

“We’re in conversations with all three school systems’ superintendents to look at how we can bus students from Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties to our CTET location in Hughesville to take some of these skilled trades certification pathways,” Wilson said.

The program would require coordination among the three school systems to align schedules and transportation for students attending the training center.

Charles County Commissioner Gilbert “B.J.” Bowling said the county may be willing to assist if transportation becomes a challenge, asking college officials to return to the board if support is needed for Charles County students.

Wilson said the college hopes to finalize details this summer so school systems can begin sharing the opportunities with students in the fall.

“We hope to have all that firmed up this summer so they can start announcing it in the fall when students return,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the partnership reflects growing regional collaboration to expand workforce opportunities for students across Southern Maryland.

“We’re just delighted and thrilled that we’re coming together as a region thinking through skilled pathway opportunities,” Wilson said.

Watch the Board of County Commissioners’ March 10, 2026, meeting on CCGTV.

---