| NSF Org: |
DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 14, 2011 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | February 23, 2016 |
| Award Number: | 1104186 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
David B. Campbell
DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | September 15, 2011 |
| End Date: | September 30, 2016 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $498,216.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $498,216.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
700 W STATE ST MILWAUKEE WI US 53233-1419 (414)297-6320 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
700 W STATE ST MILWAUKEE WI US 53233-1419 |
| Primary Place of Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Advanced Tech Education Prog |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
A regional partnership of technical colleges and universities, workforce investment boards, K-12 systems, and water-driven industries and businesses have identified gaps to be filled to meet the specific personnel and skill needs of southeastern Wisconsin's water technology businesses and emerging occupations. This ATE project - H2Options - is filling these gaps by modifying and developing new associate degree and technical certificate water technology programs, and establishing high school and university articulations as a part of pathways to water technology careers. This project is promoting the training of new water industry technicians to meet the growing workforce demands of the water industry in southeastern Wisconsin. These degrees and certificates are serving students at the partner institutions, as well as incumbent and dislocated workers. Through articulation, regional high school students are being introduced to opportunities in water technology and gain basic competencies to transition into two- and four-year programs. Students also benefit from internships, service learning, and mentoring opportunities. The H2Options program identifies new articulation areas; expands knowledge of specific skills, tasks and technology needed in water technology sectors; develops networks and partnerships; and makes the expanded curriculum for the career pathways available nationally. The broader impacts of the project include the modification of at least one associate degree program and creation of four new certificate programs that will reach a wide range of persons in southeastern Wisconsin. In addition, the project promotes new AAS to BS transfer articulations, incumbent worker promotional opportunities, and adult and youth career pathways leading to water industry employment through internship and service learning programs.
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.
H2Options Project Outcomes Report for the General Public
The H2Options is a collaborative project among technical colleges, universities, businesses and organizations in southeastern Wisconsin. Spearheaded by Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), other major stakeholders include Waukesha County Technical College, Gateway Technical College, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and the Water Council of Milwaukee. The project aimed to increase the knowledge and technical skills that are needed to meet the needs of water technology workforce by creating water-related career pathways from high schools to technical colleges and four-year universities.
Three goals have led the overall efforts of the grant. Goal 1 was to enhance water technology education in high school. Major grant activities include offering orientation sessions to high school teachers. These sessions provided a platform for high school teachers to further develop their water technology knowledge as well as an opportunity to connect with water industry. These sessions have been well attended and received. The grant also funded a lending library of water-related equipment, which science teachers can lend to conduct hands-on experiments on water technology in their classes. So far, five high schools have taken the opportunity. The library has also been demonstrated in science fairs, college classrooms and other science-related activities. Goal 2 of the project was about establishing certificate programs and articulation plans. Along that line, four certificate programs have been developed, which are Fresh/Reclaimed Water Process Control Advanced Certificate, Fresh/Reclaimed Water Automation Advanced Certificate, Water Chemistry Certificate, and Freshwater Resources and Environmental Health Certificate. Moreover, articulation agreements have been set up with Concordia University-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for students to continue their water-related education. Goal 3 is about recruiting student into the water-related career. The most important product of this initiative is the program website at http://www.matc.edu/tas/h2option/. It provides students and teachers with information on high school resources, college programs, career employment, and other water-related resources. The grant also made efforts to reach to broader audience in the community. A recent example is at the quarterly meeting for the Water Council in Milwaukee, Dr. Wilma Bonaparte, the principle investigator for this grant, served as a panelist of keynote speakers and led a lively discussion on the goals of the grant and its impact on the local community.
In summary, the H2Options grant has addressed some important issues in setting up water career pathways. It created multiple pathways that will facilitate water-related workforce training in Southeastern Wisconsin. The grant provided unique professional training experience to a large number of high school teachers, who in turn, will be able to enhance the water-related curriculum for students. As the interest and resources continue to be put into this vital water consortium, the groundwork laid out and achieved by the NSF H2Options grant awarded to MATC will prove to be important. The current effort to explore water-related pathways should be continued, and it will be advantageous to assess the long-term impact from this work in the future.
Last Modified: 01/16/2017
Modified by: Wilma Bonaparte
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