Contact: Di Saunders - Office, 503-725-5714; Cell, 503-807-5539
Source: Bruce Schafer, Director, Industry Affairs - Office: 503-725-2915

ETIC Awards $729,383 in Grants
toward Pre-Engineering Education Programs

PORTLAND, May 9 – The Oregon University System announced today that the Engineering & Technology Industry Council (ETIC) has awarded $729,383 in grants toward efforts to improve the pipeline of highly skilled engineering and technology students in K-12 and postsecondary education.  The grants will fund twelve programs sponsored by Oregon public colleges, school districts, and educational organizations, to expand the state’s ability to prepare students for success in engineering and technology careers.

The Pre-Engineering and Applied Science project supports ETIC’s strategy to “grow our own” Oregon engineers and computer scientists, and ultimately double the number of these professionals in Oregon. The awards were given to programs that advance pre-engineering education efforts through a broad range of outreach, curricula, and professional development. Statewide, funded projects include plans to bolster LEGO robotics curricula in Spanish and English, bring guest technology teachers into classrooms, and help fund the implementation of nationally recognized pre-engineering curricula in high schools. 

Bruce Schafer, executive director of ETIC, says, “It is rewarding to support these promising, multi-faceted efforts to prepare Oregon youth for exciting engineering and technical careers. More than ever, Oregon leaders are coming together to initiate and enhance avenues for Oregon students, from kindergarten through college, to find ways toward these promising careers. Strong collaboration and shared vision among educators and industry leadership is making this happen.”

The target goals and strategies for the grants were developed by statewide business, policy, and education leaders who convened at a 2005 summit to develop a common strategic plan for improving pre-engineering and applied science education in Oregon. (For more information on the Oregon Pre-Engineering & Applied Sciences Strategic Planning Summit, go to www.opas.ous.edu).  The grant review committee looked for programs that enhance communications and outreach efforts to young people across the state on the opportunities in technical careers; strengthen or innovate pre-engineering and technology curriculum and standards; or improve professional development programs that allow teachers and faculty to more effectively teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses.

The largest grant of $99,900 was awarded to the University of Oregon Educational Policy Improvement Center, to research and document the content knowledge, habits of mind, and teaching methods needed to succeed in 100-200 level courses in the Oregon University System. David Conley, UO Professor and executive director of the Educational Policy Improvement Center, says, “As a result of this grant, high school teachers across the state will have a much better idea of what they can do to prepare students for success in college engineering and related studies, and ultimately, more Oregon students will be prepared to succeed.”

Grant recipients include:

University of Oregon

1. Educational Policy Improvement Center: $99,900 to research and document the content knowledge, habits of mind, and teaching methods needed to succeed in 100-200 level courses in the Oregon University System.

Oregon Institute of Technology

1. $99,765 to the Pre-Engineering Success through Project Lead the Way, to train and prepare teachers to implement a nationally recognized pre-engineering curriculum program in their local high school.

Oregon State University

1. $93,115 to Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE), to increase STEM career awareness and aspirations of minority, low income, first generation and rural students through outreach programs and events aimed at both students and parents.
2. $36,450 to Engineering Ambassadors, a program in which students educate students through near-peer mentoring, motivating diverse populations to engineering/technical careers.
3. $13,200 to the College of Engineering for early exposure of K-12 students to science and engineering, to implement an integrated approach to introducing engineering concepts into the lives of K-14 students and parents through their wide array of Pre-College programs.

Beaverton School District, Aloha High School:

1. $70,157 to the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy using Techworld Curriculum/Equipment project, to fund equipment and curriculum for a new STEM track at a large school with high minority population.

Yamhill- Carlton School District

1. $70,000 to the Integrated Manufacturing Technology (IMT) Lab, support of a new technology lab in a rural school district that is focused on implementing best practices and building partnerships with local industry.

Portland State University

1. $61,000 to Oregon MESA (Math Engineering, Science, Achievement), to increase engineering and computer science graduates through a combination of targeted bilingual marketing and outreach efforts offering engineering-related information and experiences.

South Lane School District

1. $57,015 to enhance the pre-engineering program/lab at Cottage Grove High School and Lincoln Middle School, including expanding the existing high school pre-engineering program to middle school, motivating students to complete four years in the program through scholarships and internships, and supporting a middle school robotics club.

Tigard-Tualatin School District

1. $55,250 to enhance engineering science curriculum at Tualatin High School for their new facility, the TECH (Tualatin Engineering Computers and Health) wing.  

Software Association of Oregon (SAO) Foundation

1. $47,000 to increase and diversify pre-engineering education through LEGO robotics curriculum, including consolidating the current robotics materials into a more accessible CD in both English and Spanish, adapting that curriculum for a new generation of robotics technology, and subsidizing kits for teachers trained through SuperQuest, an SAO sponsored professional development summer institute.

Portland Community College

Oregon University System comprises seven distinguished public universities, reaching more than one million people each year through on-campus classes, statewide public services and lifelong learning. For additional information, go to www.ous.edu

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