The Association for Program Administrators of CSTEP and STEP, Inc. (APACS) was initiated in 1997 by CSTEP and STEP professionals to support, advance, and meet the issues of equity, access, and excellence in education.

• Provide professional development and training programs, activities and events for members.
• Foster the development of policies and practices that enhance and increase the recruitment, retention and graduation of underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged students in STEM, health and licensed fields. 
• Provide an annual conference and meeting to present, support and facilitate research, best practices, speakers (leaders in their field), and networking opportunities for members. 
• Facilitate access to programs of higher education for STEP students.
• Encourage and facilitate data collection for program evaluation.
• Support and promote the development of effective and efficient policies and guidelines governing CSTEP and STEP programs.
• Advocate for equity in funding for CSTEP and STEP programs.

Membership in APACS is open to all full and part-time professionals and/or staff associated directly with a CSTEP and STEP program. Membership in APACS is per institution and program.  All programs who are current members in good standing (i.e. annual dues paid in full) are eligible to vote in APACS elections and meetings.

For more information on membership

Currently, there are 65 CSTEP and 56 STEP Programs located at New York State colleges and universities. The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) and the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP ) have been sponsored by the New York State legislature since 1986-87. These programs are supervised by the New York State Education Department Office of Higher Education.