National Science Foundation Grant
National Science Foundation Grant Grayson College has been awarded a second round National Science Foundation-Advanced Technological Education grant in the amount of $431,905 to continue strengthening its Advanced Manufacturing Program (AMP) within our local ISD partners. The monies will be dedicated to hiring a second full-time AMP faculty member, enhancing AMP presence on the College's website, creating a strong mentor/mentee program and purchasing equipment. The grant runs from October 2020 through September 2023.
"The ultimate goal Grayson College hopes to accomplish via this grant is to better serve our rural high schools interested in Advanced Manufacturing," Dean of Academic & Workforce Instruction Dr. Chase Machen said. "This NSF Grant allocation of $517,639, will allow GC to purchase needed equipment that provides students opportunities to learn theory along with actual applications on different electrical components which they will find in industry. The grant will also allow the College to on-board an additional AMP instructor, which in turn will allow more focused attention on travel to high schools, research opportunities to expand program access to rural and non-traditional students and design/implement a hybrid instructional model to reach additional students."
The second AMP instructor will also strive to implement flexible lab instruction options and offer onsite introductory courses to high school students. During the evaluation process of the first grant, many of the high school students expressed the need for more instructional support during their initial experience with the manufacturing equipment. Portable equipment, which can be taken to the high school locations, is being reviewed to determine if preliminary introduction to this type of training tool could alleviate the initial fear factor of the machines located in the Grayson College AMP lab. The second AMP instructor, therefore, will focus more on integration of the curriculum at the high school site, so that more high school students can participate in the AMP program.
The Advanced Manufacturing Program was established in 2016 to assist high school students with preparing for a manufacturing career. Organizations involved in the program include 30 employers under the Texoma Advanced Manufacturing Consortium, the Sherman Economic Development Corp., the Denison Development Alliance, Workforce Solutions Texoma, Grayson College and multiple high schools.
With an emphasis on two-year Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy. The program involves partnerships between academic institutions (grades 7-12, IHEs) and industry to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary institution school levels. The ATE program supports curriculum development; professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; career pathways; and other activities. The program invites research proposals that advance the knowledge base related to technician education. It is expected that projects will be faculty driven and that courses and programs credit bearing, although materials developed may also be used for incumbent worker education.
Learn more about the AMP program in the Industrial Technologies Pathway