This project features seven interrelated activities designed to advance community college leadership in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields; to encourage the development of ATE-related programs in more community colleges; and to promote the value, accomplishments, and impact of the ATE program in and beyond the education field. The activities, which build upon the successes of previous efforts, include the following: (a) Three National ATE Principal Investigators (PI) Conferences in 2008, 2009, and 2010; (b) AACC MentorLinks program to help ten community colleges establish new programs or strengthen existing programs in STEM fields; (c) One special topic meeting focused on a prevailing issue in technician education; (d) Two AACC briefs, one focusing on the outcomes of the MentorLinks program, and the other focusing on the outcomes of the special topic meeting, that feature promising practices and resources; (e) A publication highlighting ATE projects entitled ATE Projects Impact; (f) Increased dissemination of information about ATE programs and their impact on the AACC web site; a public awareness and media outreach strategy; and publications, presentations, feature stories, and conference proceedings; and (g) Evaluation.
Intellectual Merit: The activities advance the knowledge and understanding of various STEM disciplines and the strategies used to build and strengthen STEM programs. They are designed to enrich and expand the current network of institutions in the forefront of technological education reform; support that network by advancing opportunities for professional development and mentoring programs that provide venues and forums for identifying issues and solutions to challenging areas; and increase dissemination of information about successful programs and their national significance.
Broader Impact: These activities help community college leaders make the important connections and partnerships necessary to build and sustain STEM programs. The networking at previous ATE Conferences has led to numerous interactions among participants, involving the sharing of materials, the exchange of visits to campuses, and work on collaborative projects. This project is increasing this impact through development of additional targeted outreach and dissemination strategies. These activities are expanding, shaping, and focusing the future of the ATE program as it positions itself to meet the increasing demand for a trained technical workforce amid the challenges of maintaining U.S. competitiveness in a global economy.
Through its National Science Foundation (NSF) grant activities, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) provides professional development opportunities and resources to community college faculty and administrators working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Activities supported by this grant included: three national ATE Principal Investigators Conference in 2008, 2009, and 2010; a mentoring program called MentorLinks; a National Summit on Energy Technician Education; outreach and information dissemination; and publications. AACC convened three successful National ATE Principal Investigators Conferences in October of 2008, 2009, and 2010, which provided networking and professional development opportunities for more than 1,800 community college, four-year college/university, K-12, and business/industry representatives. Each year attendees reported that the conference is especially valuable because of its 150 high-tech "showcase" exhibits and the networking opportunities. Nearly 180 students, who were nominated by ATE faculty and received travel support to attend and present at the national ATE conferences, were acknowledged for their achievements in technician education programs and received certificates of recognition from NSF. AACC managed the MentorsLinks: Advancing Technological Education program, which was designed to help colleges develop or strengthen technician training programs in STEM fields. The focus is on mentoring, professional development opportunities, and technical assistance. AACC awarded two-year grants of $15,000 to each of nine "mentee" community colleges and paired each college team with an experienced mentor in their disciplinary field. This group of MentorLinks colleges created 43 new courses, 7 new associate degrees, and 13 new certificates. They also developed several new industry partnerships related to their programs. Overall, the MentorLinks colleges served more than 500 community college students in technician education programs and increased enrollment by 14% to 350% in those programs. As a group, the colleges were able to leverage their small grants for $1,410,255 in additional grant funding. AACC created a national network and convened the National Summit on Energy Technician Education in December 2010 to address the needs of future technicians in several energy sectors. Working in partnership with the Advanced Technological Environmental and Energy Center (ATEEC) and NSF, AACC brought together approximately 95 key individuals representing community colleges, four-year institutions, secondary schools, business/industry, professional organizations, and government. Summit attendees discussed the future direction of the energy technician education field and created recommendations for a plan for action for NSF, other federal agencies, community colleges, and four-year institutions involved in energy technician education. AACC also produced and distributed information about STEM and technician education, including: (1) ATE Projects Impact: Partners with Industry for a New American Workforce, a book that highlights 84 ATE projects working in a variety of STEM disciplines across the nation; (2) ATE Student Success: A Report from the Birds of a Feather Sessions," which summarizes discussions by ATE Conference attendees related to student success and diversifying pathways for students to enter technician education programs; (3) an AACC Project Brief profiling the MentorLinks program; (4) more than 20 articles published in the Community College Times and Community College Journal highlighting the work of community colleges in ATE and STEM fields; and (5) a project web site at www.aacc.nche.edu/ateprogram. Through these project activities, AACC enriched and expanded the current network of institutions that are at the forefront of technological education reform. AACC supported that network by providing professional development and mentoring programs that are identifying issues and solutions to critical challenges in STEM and technician education.
