Hartnell College is creating 2+2+2 career pathways for technicians, engineers, and engineering designers in two emerging fields of sustainable energy, power engineering and engineering design. The goals of the project are to (1) improve the STEM pipeline from two area high schools to Hartnell College and to the University of California at Santa Cruz, (2) integrate renewable energy technologies into existing curricula at participating high schools and Hartnell, and (3) prepare students to work in sustainable energy and engineering technologies jobs. The project is forming a consortium of at least 10 partners, including industry, in sustainable energy education; creating and supporting new energy career pathways; increasing student enrollment in high school and bridge program sustainable energy programs; developing and implementing an internship program; and using a newly constructed sustainable energy and research facility. Project deliverables include new courses, research findings from student projects, a model consortium, high school outreach and instructional materials, and project evaluation data.
During the 3 years of the NSF ATE grant, 297 high school, community college, university and graduate students were engaged in multiple research projects and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs which resulted in an additional 169 STEM majors at Hartnell College, and the completion of 16 engineering and energy research projects. Enrollments at UCSC from Hartnell College have more than quadrupled during this period, but even more importantly, foundations for ongoing Engineering and Sustainable Design Programs are in place at Hartnell College. With full time Engineering and Sustainable Design faculty, 6300 square feet of new labs and classrooms at Hartnell College’s Center for Advanced Technology available for student education, engineering research, sustainable design and green construction, a micro-grid test facility, and a well developed Consortium of regional schools, industry, government agencies and nonprofits, Hartnell College is well positioned for continued growth in student success including STEM areas. The Salinas Valley Consortium for Sustainable Energy, Education, and Research was initiated in 2011 to develop educational pathways in Engineering and Sustainable Design. These education tracks were designed to serve the needs of a largely agricultural based, 80% Latino, immigrant population living in the Salinas Valley. Led by Hartnell Community College Engineering, Sustainable Design, and Construction programs, and in collaboration with UCSC Engineering, the Consortium expanded to include nine colleges and universities and twelve high schools. Other partners included Chevron Energy Systems, Pacific Gas and Electric, Applied Solar Systems, Hayward Building Materials, local government agencies, and nonprofits. Over 3 summers, in a collaboration between Hartnell College and UCSC’s Engineering Program, 52 students including 32 community college and 20 high school students participated in 8-week renewable energy research projects. The projects ranged from developing renewable energy solutions for USDA pumping stations to investigating the properties of the Kapany Solar Window Wall. 100 % of the student interns continued on in higher education or directly to STEM related employment. Student projects were presented at Hartnell College’s Annual STEM Symposium. In 2014, 3 community college mentors and 13 Salinas high school interns completed an 8-week research internship program designed to introduce engineering principles to students while building a Tiny House. The goal was to create greater interest in Engineering programs. 25% of the students indicated increased interest in pursuing an education in Engineering. Interns also participated in conferences and competitions. In 2013 two Hartnell College student interns were selected to present their research regarding their model off-the-grid, self-sustaining "Pocket House" at the annual ATE conference in Washington D.C. Additionally, in 2014, a Hartnell team became the first community college to win the International Mock Firm Skyscraper Design Competition. To develop the educational paths in Engineering and Sustainable Design, Hartnell College hired its first full-time faculty in Engineering and in Sustainable Design and Construction in 2011. In addition, 5 Project Lead the Way educational programs were arranged for local high school faculty between 2012 and 2014. An agreement between UCSC and Hartnell College in 2011 introduced new Renewable Energy curriculum to not only the Engineering Program at Hartnell College, but also to Consortium partners Cabrillo and Foothill Community Colleges. In 2012 an articulation agreement was completed between the Salinas High School Sustainable Construction Academy and the Hartnell College Sustainable Design and Construction program. A new Associates degree was developed by Hartnell College in 2012 and approved by the California Chancellor’s office as the first community college Sustainable Design program in California. This program will be articulated in the coming year with a new minor in Sustainable Studies introduced in 2014 at UCSC, which includes Sustainable Engineering and Ecological Design (SEED). In partnership with a Department of Education Title V grant, a STEM based Summer Bridge program was expanded at Hartnell College for graduating seniors from the twelve high schools in the region. These 5-week, intensive summer programs included curriculum in Math, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Engineering. A total of 223 students completed these programs since the 2012 expansion. 99% continued their education at the college and university level, and 51% in STEM related majors. 80 % of the students continued their education at Hartnell College. Excellent relationships and articulated curricula have been developed from high schools through Hartnell Community College and UCSC. The relationship between Hartnell College and UCSC has matured into an ongoing collaboration in multiple research and development areas. Success of the program has attracted additional supporters who have more than matched the original $899,000 NSF ATE grant, and will support the continued development of these STEM education paths to serve future regional needs and students of the Salinas Valley.
