Data management plans facilitate effective STEM career development programs

Data management plans are indispensable for undergraduate career development programs. Guided by FAIR principles, data management plans provide the blueprint specifying how data derived from programmatic implementation will be collected, managed, disseminated, shared, and stored. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career development programs in college have been instrumental in helping undergraduate and graduate students achieve occupational goals. STEM career development program objectives typically include enhancing students’ academic and professional skills by increasing their exposure to real-world experiences in graduate school and the workforce. Data management plans are essential elements for career development programs. Data management plan characteristics must be resolved in the early stages of program development by the program team. Three major types of data originate during the implementation of many STEM career development programs: program data, social science data, and STEM research data. Effective data management plans lead to the production of reusable data that informs evidence-based practices. Include data management plan operating costs in the program budget and assign project team members to carry out specific components of the data management plan. Formative evaluations enable modifications to the data management plan, improving efficiency. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) platforms reduce problems associated with data management plan administration and enhance collaboration among program personnel responsible for the successful execution of the plan. The purpose of this article is to present practical information for developing a data management plan for STEM career development programs.