A Center of Excellence for Chemistry-Based Technician Education

This planning grant is enabling a working group of chemistry educators from community colleges, high schools, and a university, along with laboratory technicians and supervisors from industry and government, to develop a comprehensive plan for creating and operating a National Center of Excellence for Chemistry-Based Technician Education ("NCE"). The center, which will be based at the Southeast Community College in Lincoln Nebraska, will serve as a national model for program and materials development, and will serve as a clearinghouse for information critical to chemistry-based technician education. The working group for the proposed NCE builds on the broad experience and national leadership of its members and is comprehensively considering issues related to the Center's development, including: curriculum reform and implementation, alliances with industry, direct transfer of credit to four-year institutions, and "2+2+2" articulation. During the planning period, the working group will be developing the structural and programmatic basis to create a National Center of Excellence at Southeast Community College which can take the national lead in the development of a dynamic and cooperative approach to chemistry-based technician education. ***