Howard University · Robotics & Automation Outreach Program
RAOP 2027 application information
Explore a three-week summer research experience for pre-service and in-service STEM educators: two weeks of virtual learning and one week on-site in the AVRC Laboratory.
2027 application status: not yet open
Proposed schedule — subject to confirmation by the RAOP project team. Applications are not yet open.
The application form will be available here when recruitment opens. This page provides planning information; visiting it does not submit an application or register you for a waitlist.
Participant support and program benefits
Budgeted support is up to $5,900 per educator: $1,000 for virtual participation, $2,000 for on-site participation, up to $2,400 for housing, and up to $500 for transportation and travel. Housing and travel support are for eligible non-local educators; eligibility, completion requirements, documentation, and university procedures apply. Final 2027 arrangements will be confirmed by the RAOP team.
Educators gain guided experience with MATLAB, Simulink, QLabs digital twins, and supervised robotics experiments, with faculty and technical support. They develop classroom activities and plans for assessment and implementation in their schools.
Participant support detailsWhat you can prepare now
- Review the eligibility and selection framework.
- Identify a teaching question and a course, curriculum unit, or club that could benefit from robotics and automation.
- Review the proposed summer schedule and discuss availability with your school or preparation program.
- Explore the 2026 educator experience and learning resources.
The recruitment announcement will confirm eligibility, required documents, participant support, and deadlines. The 2026 materials describe the previous cycle.
Next cycle · planning schedule
Proposed 2027 Recruitment and Preparation
Proposed schedule — subject to confirmation by the RAOP project team. Applications are not yet open.
Earlier recruitment gives educators time to plan. The proposed April preparation package provides about two months before June onboarding for introductory learning and access checks.
November 2, 2026 · Proposed
1. Publish the recruitment announcement
Proposed launch of the next-cycle call, with eligibility, participation expectations, and support information.
January 29, 2027 · Proposed
2. Priority application deadline
Proposed deadline for a complete application and supporting documents.
February 1–26, 2027 · Proposed
3. Review and interviews
Review eligibility and program fit; discuss teaching goals, availability, and support needs.
March 12, 2027 · Proposed
4. Selection notifications
Target date for communicating offers and waitlist decisions.
March 26, 2027 · Proposed
5. Confirm participation
Target date for accepting an offer and identifying preparation and access needs.
April 12, 2027 · Proposed
6. Share the preparation package
Provide the guide, preparation activities, and software-access instructions, subject to confirmed licensing. This allows about two months before onboarding.
June 14, 2027 · Proposed
7. Educator onboarding
Review the program, guided inquiry, school teaching goals, and the assessment framework.
June 28, 2027 · Proposed
8. Technical readiness session
Check MATLAB, Simulink, QLabs, and assigned platform resources; resolve access issues.
July 2, 2027 · Proposed
9. T1 readiness checkpoint
Proposed readiness deadline before virtual instruction. Revised cycle-specific forms will be issued.
July 6–16, 2027 · Proposed
10. Two-week virtual phase
Guided digital-twin investigations; proposed T2 submission July 15 and review July 16. Session times will be confirmed.
July 19–23, 2027 · Proposed
11. One-week on-site phase
Supervised platform rotations; proposed T3, T4, and T5 checkpoints on July 23. Advisory review dates will be confirmed separately.
Fall 2027 · Proposed
12. School implementation follow-up
Review activities implemented or planned, available evidence, barriers, and curriculum refinements.
Final announcements will confirm eligibility, application materials, software access, participant support, and session times. Any change will be communicated before the affected deadline.