Cover of the report, "A Framework for a Cross-Disciplinary STEM Core," from Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work

The ATE project Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work recently released a research paper that outlines recommendations for the integration of knowledge and skills in three key STEM areas: advanced digital literacy, data knowledge and analysis, and business knowledge and processes. The paper draws on research conducted with industry leaders, technicians, and STEM educators. 

Members of the ATE community will find much that is relevant to their own work, especially the report’s discussions of new programs to support emerging occupations and strategies to ensure the competitiveness of community college technical programs.

Readers can learn about the project and download the paper, “A Framework for Cross-Disciplinary STEM Core.”

A young woman with glasses smiles while sitting behind a laptop.

The League for Innovation is now accepting nominations for the 2021-2022 Terry O’Banion Student Technology Awards from League Alliance and Board member colleges. This award honors two deserving students who demonstrate a special talent in technology, passion about moving toward a career in technology, academic excellence, and strong financial need. Winners will receive $1,000 to be used for education expenses (e.g., tuition, fees) and a plaque commemorating their achievement. 

Each separately accredited League member institution may submit one nomination for the Student Technology Champion award and one nomination for the Student Developer Champion award. (Dual enrollment high school and early college students are not eligible.)

Nominations will be accepted through October 29, 2021. Please refer to the Terry O’Banion Student Technology Awards page to learn more. The guidelines page provides detailed nomination information. Contact Kelly Dooling with questions.

A man in a violet dress shirt edits a printed article with a pen.

The Journal of Advanced Technological Education (J ATE) is a new peer-reviewed technical journal focused on technician education at community colleges. J ATE is now welcoming submissions to be published in upcoming issues. For members of the ATE community, publishing in a peer-reviewed technical journal like J ATE will be an excellent way to disseminate work, promote technical education programs, and share research with like-minded educators and the wider technical education community. 

There is no cost to publish, access, and read the journal. In addition, there are no subscription or submission fees. J ATE authors are invited from ATE projects and centers, community college faculty, university education researchers, and industry personnel. Our target audience will include community and technical college faculty and staff, as well as K-12 educators, industry members, and those readers with interests in micro-nano technology and related fields, NSF ATE, and technician education. The journal is supported by the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) with participation from InnovATEBIO (The National Center for Bio Technologies), the National Center for Autonomous...

Due to continued concerns related to COVID-19 and in consideration of the safety and well-being of conference participants and staff, the AACC has decided to transition the 2021 ATE Conference from a hybrid to a fully virtual event.

The AACC anticipates that there will be several questions pertaining to the cancellation of the in-person event. To assist you, please consult this list of FAQs for questions pertaining to registration refunds, transfer of registrations to the virtual event, hotel and travel, and the Call for Sessions.

Please see ATE Central's PI Conference page for more information and resources.

Logo for EvaluATE, ATE resource evaluation hub.

EvaluATE is excited to share the call for submissions to recognize excellence in ATE evaluations. Evaluators, principal investigators, and program officers are encouraged to nominate evaluations of ATE projects, centers, and small, new to ATE projects.

EvaluATE is looking for evaluations that exemplify the qualities of outstanding evaluation, including usefulness to stakeholders, appropriateness of methods, and overall quality.

The deadline for submission is September 10, 2021. Submission forms and additional information can be found on the award website. Reach out to Lyssa Wilson Becho with any questions regarding the awards submission or review process.

Mentor conntect logo

Mentor-Connect is opening its mentoring services to two-year college STEM faculty members who have not previously received a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program. Previously, the Mentor-Connect mentoring opportunity was only available to faculty whose colleges are eligible for small grants for institutions new to ATE.

Faculty interested in applying to be in Mentor-Connect’s tenth cohort – who will receive mentoring from January through September 2022 – are encouraged to attend an Orientation Webinar at 2 p.m. (EDT) on Wednesday, September 8. The webinar provides an overview of the ATE program, explains Mentor-Connect’s services, and offers general tips for grant-funding success. To register for the webinar, click here.

To access Mentor-Connect’s online application for The New-to-ATE Two-Year STEM Faculty Mentorship click here. Mentor-Connect applications are due by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, October 8, 2021. Selected faculty will be notified Friday, November 5.   

Photo thumbnails during a webinar displayed on a laptop screen next to a green coffee mug.

Sign up now to join presenters Kendra Bouda and Rachael Bower on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 from noon-1:00 pm CDT for an introduction to archiving with ATE Central. To sign up, please email ATE Central.

Presenters will discuss what the ATE Central Archiving Service is and how to select materials for archiving. Learn what to expect during the submission process and what happens to your materials behind the scenes. 

Participants are encouraged to come prepared with archiving questions and seek advice during the Q&A portion of the talk, or stay online and chat with presenters after the meeting. 

A man and a woman communicate in sign language.

Employers often are unsure about how best to communicate with potential employees who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. This tip sheet from DeafTEC and AccessATE provides helpful hints and resources to prepare you to discuss with employers how to effectively communicate with deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. 

This resource covers strategies for conversations in one-on-one interactions and group settings. To learn more, be sure to read the AccessATE blog post on how COVID-19 makes communication more challenging for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. 

AccessATE supports the work of the NSF-funded Advanced Technological Education (ATE) projects and centers in making the materials and activities they develop more accessible for all students and faculty, including those with disabilities. The project aims to increase awareness and understanding of accessibility requirements and provide guidance, tools, and support that offers solutions and helps achieve compliance with accessibility standards.

A woman in a wheel chair and a woman seated at a table share coffee and converse.

It can be a challenge to talk to potential industry employers about workplace communication and safety for employees with disabilities. Check out this tip sheet from DeafTEC and AccessATE on Workplace Communication and Safety for Physical Disabilities for helpful hints and resources to prepare you to discuss these topics with industry partners and advocate for your students. 

This resource covers tips for communicating with individuals with disabilities and ensuring people with physical disabilities can be safe in the workplace, as well as links to additional useful resources. To learn more, be sure to read the AccessATE blog post on using Person-First or Identity-First language to describe people with disabilities. 

AccessATE supports the work of the NSF-funded Advanced Technological Education (ATE) projects and centers in making the materials and activities they develop more accessible for all students and faculty, including those with disabilities. The project aims to increase awareness and understanding of accessibility requirements and provide guidance, tools, and support that offers solutions and helps achieve compliance with accessibility standards.

American Society for Engineering Education logo

The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) is hosting an in-person event, ASEE: Preparing the Workforce for Industry 4.0, which will take place in Washington, D.C., on October 13-14, 2021. 

Engineering is at a crossroads. This includes its practice in the workplace—and how it’s taught in the classroom. New technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), nanofabrication, and the internet of things (IoT) have shifted the engineering landscape.

The event features a series of TED-like talks, along with industry and academic leaders, a member of the National Science Board, and other luminaries.

To learn more about the project and for details about registration and accommodations (including early-bird pricing), visit the ASEE Workforce 4.0 site.