Project Vision: Helping Colleges Innovate

Project Vision is focused on mentoring colleges to align their strategic, facilities, and academic master plan with National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. Project Vision is currently recruiting for its next cohort, which starts in July 2022 and culminates in a grant submission in October 2023. 

In addition to mentorship, Project Vision will offer a $6,000 stipend to each school, assign a subject matter expert fluent in NSF grant submissions, and cover travel to the ATE conference. 

For more information, sign up for one of two upcoming webinars: March 22 at 2:30 pm (Eastern) or April 19 at 2:30 pm (Eastern).

J ATE Journal of Advanced Technological Education logo

The Journal of Advanced Technological Education (J ATE) is a peer-reviewed journal for ATE projects and centers and community college faculty and staff who work in technician education. J ATE launched its inaugural issue on Jan 31, 2022. 

This introductory issue features articles submitted, peer-reviewed, and published. One of the articles addresses autonomous technologies by Zackary Nicklin. Another highlight to enjoy reading features lessons learned in technician education during the COVID-19 pandemic, by Khalid H. Tantawi.

All articles published in the journal are under a Creative Commons license. Readers are encouraged to share articles and links.

A dark-haired female student reads a book and takes notes seated at a library table.

The National Science Foundation has announced a new program initiative for individuals in EPSCoR states in response to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The initiative, called EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Program: Bridging EPSCoR Communities (RII-BEC), seeks to bridge programs to facilitate the transitions of affected groups (e.g., women, underrepresented minorities, research trainees, and graduate fellows) from one stage of STEM training to the next.

The initiative will accept proposals that support those individuals most strongly affected by the pandemic at vulnerable career transition points. Proposals may include partnerships within and/or across two-year and four-year institutions (including community colleges).

The deadline for proposal submission is April 4, 2022 at 5:00 pm (local time). Interested proposers are encouraged to reach out to Andrea Johnson or Subrata Acharya with questions about proposal preparation and submission.

A student gives a high-five to a professor while working in a library with three other students on a group project.

The American Association of Community Colleges, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, is inviting community college students to participate in the 2022 Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC). In this national competition, teams of community college students work with a faculty or administrator mentor to use science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to innovate solutions to real-world problems.

Members of the ATE community are encouraged to share this opportunity with their students and to serve as faculty mentors. Benefits of participation include full travel support to attend an Innovation Boot Camp in the Washington, DC, metro area, as well as cash awards.

Submissions are due March 30, 2022. Visit the CCIC page for more information and submission guidelines, or email [email protected] for questions.

A semi-conductor operator working at a lab station in protective gear.

The Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge Resource Center (NACK) is offering a series of four Implementing Nano Working Group (INWG) sessions designed to help participants cultivate ideas or implement readily available, nanotechnology-based resources, facilitated by experienced nanotechnology educators from across the country. 

Sessions will begin after March 15, 2022. Exact dates and times will be determined once groups are defined. Participation is open to all, but U.S. high school and undergraduate institution educators with prior nanoknowledge experience are eligible for stipends. 

Interested community members should submit their application by the deadline of March 1, 2022. 

A college student examines the inner workings of an electronic device.

On Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 6:00-6:45 pm (EST), the Spectrum Innovates Pathway Program (SIPP) will host a virtual information session, “A New Model of Transition for those on the Autism Spectrum.” SIPP is a gateway to higher-ed and the workforce for those whose passions include aviation, aerospace, and related STEM fields. 

This event will be a great opportunity to share with students and other folks in your networks who might be interested in learning about these career paths. It is also a great opportunity for ATE community members to connect and share ideas.

Interested participants can register here and find more information about SIPP. 

STEM for All logo

Members of the ATE community are invited to register to present a short video about their centers or projects for the 2022 STEM for All Video Showcase, which will take place May 10-17, 2022. This week-long event is a great opportunity to showcase your work to an audience of thousands of researchers, educators, and policymakers from around the world. 

The theme of this year’s showcase is “Access, Inclusion & Equity.” Successful videos will describe the need that the project addresses, the intervention, innovation, or research, and the potential impact of the work. 

Participants must register their intent to present a video by February 11, 2022. Visit the STEM For All page to get more information, view sample videos, or learn about previous showcases.

ASEE: American Society for Engineering Education logo

As part of the ongoing Workforce for Industry 4.0 Webinar Series, the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) will present the webinar “Community Colleges and ATE Programs Addressing Workforce for Industry 4.0.” This event will take place on Friday, February 4, 2022, from noon to 1:30 pm (EST). 

The webinar will feature comments from ATE Program Director Celeste Carter, a short talk by Stanley Black and Decker VP Marty Guay, and a moderated panel featuring PIs from five ATE centers. Attendees will also receive information about collaboration resources and new funding opportunities.

Interested community members can register for the webinar or find more information on the Industry Workforce 4.0 page.

ATE EPILOGUE project logo

The recently completed two-year study “Exploring Past Investment in Learning through Grant-funded Undergraduate Advanced Technology Education Centers (EPILOGUE)” released its comprehensive report earlier this year. The project sought to investigate the legacy of ATE centers, including the ideas, innovations, knowledge, and products developed by each center and how these continue to evolve and be employed in instructional settings. 

The findings in the report draw on interviews, archival documents, and public information from 10 ATE centers. Among the key findings, six major themes emerged: partnerships, team formation, leadership characteristics, creating an independent organization, the role of the National Visiting Committee, and the use of data and external evaluation.

Read the full report for more detailed findings and visit the project homepage for case studies, resource sheets, and other information.

A young woman with long brown hair wearing a black shirt gestures to a writing pad while speaking on a video call.

The Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarian's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Community of Practice will host a webinar, "Experiencing Inaccessible PDFs and How the National Network for Equitable Library Service Has Been Advancing the Agenda of Accessible Publishing."

In this presentation, Dr. Daniella Levy-Pinto will discuss the experiences of being provided inaccessible journal articles, eBooks, and other scholarly materials, and the consequences badly produced reading material has for the blind community and the scholarly community more broadly.

The webinar will be held on January 20th from 1-2 pm (EST). Interested community members can register for the webinar using this online form. For question, contact co-facilitators Mark Weiler or Aneta Kwak.