Skip to feedback

Award Abstract # 1801094
Unmanned Aerial Systems Technology Curriculum to Meet Industry Demand

NSF Org: DUE
Division Of Undergraduate Education
Recipient: PARKLAND COLLEGE DISTRICT 505
Initial Amendment Date: April 9, 2018
Latest Amendment Date: September 18, 2020
Award Number: 1801094
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Eric Sheppard
DUE
 Division Of Undergraduate Education
EDU
 Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date: July 1, 2018
End Date: June 30, 2022 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $364,334.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $364,334.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2018 = $364,334.00
History of Investigator:
  • Amanda Briggs (Principal Investigator)
  • Arthur Earl (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Wendy Evans (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Donald Talleur (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Parkland College
2400 W BRADLEY AVE
CHAMPAIGN
IL  US  61821-1806
(217)353-2167
Sponsor Congressional District: 13
Primary Place of Performance: Parkland College
2400 W. Bradley Ave
Champaign
IL  US  61821-1899
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
13
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): JJ67LYFKNYK2
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Advanced Tech Education Prog
Primary Program Source: 04001819DB NSF Education & Human Resource
Program Reference Code(s): 1032, 9178, SMET
Program Element Code(s): 741200
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.076

ABSTRACT

Careers involving the understanding and use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, are developing rapidly. A wide range of careers, from precision agriculture and crop insurance to real estate and police work, need trained UAS technicians. In addition, industries are discovering new needs for UAS and industries that use UAS are finding new ways to benefit from the data and imagery gathered by UAS. To meet these increasing demands, Parkland College will develop UAS courses and certificates with a focus on agricultural applications. This project will include the participation of five other community colleges, three four-year institutions, and industry partners. The new curriculum will advance UAS technician education so that students earn relevant credentials that will prepare them for jobs after completion. The project will focus on recruiting women and veterans into the UAS program, and will engage high schools and universities to enhance educational avenues into UAS technology careers. Students who graduate with credentials in UAS technologies should be able to enter a high-growth STEM industry that is expected to need many workers in the next decade.

The central goal of the project is to develop UAS curricula at Parkland College that meet industry needs in the major agricultural hub of Central Illinois and its surrounding area, which is expanding the use of UAS technologies. The newly-developed courses will be based on existing courses from partnering community colleges but with an emphasis on UAS applications for agricultural industries. Topics covered in the courses will include flight controllers, aerodynamics, managing data, regulations, and safety and operational considerations. The courses will be combined to create 6-credit and 18-credit UAS certificates. Industry input about curricular content will be integrated into designing the credentials so that the credentials appropriately prepare technicians for jobs in the UAS sector. The project team also aims to develop articulation agreements with universities offering UAS degrees. These connections will ensure that the new curriculum will be transferable for students wishing to continue their education. Project outreach activities will focus on recruiting women and veterans into the program, and foster associations with regional high schools. The products and best practices from the project will be disseminated through coordination with community college and university partners as well as online at multiple NSF-ATE Centers, including the National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

The UCID project, or Unmanned Curriculum for Industry Demand, provided funding for Parkland College to create an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program to meet the growing demands of a rapidly expanding industry. Over the course of the project, three new courses and two certificates were created to produce qualified workers.  An advisory board was created that played an instrumental role in assuring that the curriculum aligns with industry needs as well as offering internship positions and employment opportunities for program graduates. 

The UAS program saw a steady increase in enrollment, despite the impacts of COVID.  The program goal of enrolling 50 unique students was well exceeded with an enrollment of 134 unique students.   The project has also shown an increase in program diversity through the enrollment of minority students, particularly female students.  Marketing materials were created as well as targeted outreach events to attract a more diverse student population.  Throughout the four years of the grant, female enrollment averaged 19%, well above the project goal of 10%. 

To help create a pathway for high school students, UAS training workshops were offered to teachers that resulted in the implementation of UAS in high school classrooms across the state of Illinois.  Through these workshops, teachers were provided training to obtain their commercial UAS certificate and received hands on training to fly drones as well as using simulation software.  For students looking to continue their education beyond a certificate or associate degree, an articulation agreement was created between Parkland College and Lewis University, a 4-year institution.  

The UCID project has had a demonstrable impact by creating a UAS program to serve as a model to other institutions, positive overall enrollment numbers as well as increased diversity, performing outreach to high schools, and creating a path to continuing education at a 4-year institution.

 


Last Modified: 09/22/2022
Modified by: Amanda Briggs

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

Print this page

Back to Top of page