| NSF Org: |
DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | June 13, 2016 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | July 11, 2019 |
| Award Number: | 1601521 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Pushpa Ramakrishna
DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | June 15, 2016 |
| End Date: | May 31, 2021 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $819,416.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $819,416.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
4600 S REDWOOD RD SALT LAKE CITY UT US 84123-3145 (801)957-4209 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
UT US 84088-8818 |
| 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
Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) will develop new competency-based, open-entry, open-exit program for their biotechnology credentials, complemented by an open lab during extended evening and weekend hours. This will allow SLCC to offer students and incumbent workers opportunities for flexible scheduling and accelerated program completion. The benefits to students will be reduced costs and enhanced well-being, especially for students who have families and jobs. Complementing the project is a targeted effort to recruit underserved populations. Working with the local biotechnology industry through an advisory board, the curriculum will be tailored to the needs of local employers to ensure it provides well-educated technicians for a growing industry.
As a result of this project, SLCC will develop new practices in competency-based, open-entry, open-exit instruction and delivery that increases student access to biotechnology education and helps them earn a credential. This flexibility will save students money and support family life. This project leverages an existing Title III grant from the Department of Education. The new curriculum will be informed by a DACUM process that involves input from local industry. This will ensure that it meets the evolving needs of Utah biotechnology companies, articulates with local baccalaureate degree program, and develops the student skills needed by industry. Through proactive mentoring and advising, use of student analytics, and project evaluation, this project will identify effective practices and potential pitfalls of competency-based education programs in technician education. Through dissemination via the ATE community, this project will become a model for other programs serving students with similar needs.
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 Utah life sciences sector was experiencing rapid and sustained growth that only intensified with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The three largest life science employers in Utah, ARUP Laboratories, Nelson Laboratories, and BioFire, had projected 200-500 new jobs within ten years of the submission of this proposal. The need for a well-trained, flexible workforce is only expected to increase.
The Competency-Based, Open Entry, Open Exit Biotechnology Education (CBOE-Biotech) format better accommodates the demands of both employers and students. This format promotes access for students from diverse backgrounds by eliminating traditional semester and class schedules, allowing increased flexibility, accelerated completion, and opportunities for intensive in-person advising. Curriculum was developed in partnership with industry representatives from the aforementioned life science employers to specifically incorporate skills relevant to current and future needs, while also preparing students for transfer to the bachelor's degree program at Utah Valley University (UVU).
To assess the effectiveness of this project, a robust evaluation of data from both pre-implementation and post-implementation metrics was conducted by an independent third-party research center with expertise in higher education. Evaluation included academic data, student perceptions, incumbent worker data, and incumbent worker perceptions.
Results showed a dramatic increase in enrollment; nearly four times greater when the competency-based model was introduced. This, along with student survey data, affirms there is a strong desire among students for flexibility that allows for the integration of academic goals in a way that accommodates existing work and family obligations. Further, evaluations indicated an increase in GPA and lower course attempt rates. Research also showed that SLCC graduates who went on to a four-year degree performed at a similar level to their non-SLCC peers.
In the workforce, survey data showed that SLCC graduates earned salaries similar to their non-SLCC peers. Pre-implementation research had indicated a wage gap in starting salaries between SLCC and non-SLCC graduates. However, post-implementation research shows that this gap has since been eliminated. SLCC graduates have also reported high levels of preparedness for their work when surveyed.
The implementation of the competency-based format in a for-credit program at SLCC is now being replicated in at least one other department. As the needs of both students and employers evolves and changes, SLCC is well-positioned to meet those needs while maintaining high-quality educational content and services.
Last Modified: 09/23/2021
Modified by: Jean M Bower
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