| NSF Org: |
DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | May 29, 2013 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | February 1, 2018 |
| Award Number: | 1304036 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Virginia Carter
vccarter@nsf.gov (703)292-4651 DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | June 1, 2013 |
| End Date: | May 31, 2018 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $2,068,453.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $2,068,453.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2014 = $688,340.00 FY 2016 = $694,447.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1001 GEORGE WALLACE RD GADSDEN AL US 35903-2269 (256)549-8228 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
1001 George Wallace Drive Gadsden AL US 35903-2400 |
| 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: |
04001415DB NSF Education & Human Resource 04001516DB NSF Education & Human Resource 04001617DB NSF Education & Human Resource |
| 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
The Consortium for the Alabama Regional Center for Automotive Manufacturing (CARCAM), a regional NSF ATE Center led by Gadsden State Community College, is a collaboration of eleven community colleges in Alabama working with industry and state government to focus on advanced manufacturing in the automotive-related industry. Together with the industry, CARCAM has developed courses and an Associate's degree in automotive technology and graduated students needed by the industry. Professional development is offered to incumbent workers and faculty. Students in the program have a high rate of getting scholarships from Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association. The new degree programs address new and emerging areas of clean energy, lean manufacturing, quality control, safety robotics and workplace ethics of concern to the automotive industry. As aerospace and aviation companies are moving into Alabama, new courses and programs related to automotive manufacturing are being developed. New emphases include the development of new career pathways, engaging the industry liaison with the Alabama Department of Education, serving as a hub for promising practices, leading expansion into new areas of employer needs, providing professional development for faculty and teachers, and broadening participation to minorities, women and veterans.
The goals for CARCAM are to implement a Curriculum Gap Analysis Model to update curriculum that reflects regional industry needs, provide professional development for faculty and teachers, to educate technicians that are highly sought after by industry and to create networks that are valued by state agencies and professional organizations in Alabama and neighboring states. The evaluation concentrates on providing evidence of the extent to which these goals are achieved.
CARCAM is successfully developing a consortium of collaborating community colleges that works with the automotive industry and the State agencies to contribute to economic development in Alabama and neighboring states.
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.
AMP IT UP! Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships: Education and Industry Working Together to Develop Highly-Skilled 21st Century Technicians advanced the mission of CARCAM (Consortium for Alabama Regional Centerfor Automotive Manufacturing) as the Regional ATE Center for comprehensive, industry-recognized workforce development and STEM learning. The mission is: CARCAM responds to rapid advanced manufacturing sector growth by establishing and implementing innovative methods to develop a highly-skilled, diverse technician workforce and provide state-of-the-art professional development.
The goals were:
1) Advance CARCAM’s mission as the Regional ATE Center for comprehensive, industry-recognized workforce development and STEM learning.
2) Establish CARCAM as the industry liaison with the Alabama Department of Education and the Alabama Community College System developing a seamless career pathway, encompassing a modern, statewide, holistic approach to skills and knowledge development.
3) Enrich multi-system technician education levels with an innovative and flexible approach to stackable credentialing--to meet evolving industry sector and economic needs.
4) Deliver professional development workshops/academies to address emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing, and workforce trends, with an emphasis on keeping faculty technically current.
CARCAM’s education and industry partnerships to accomplish the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive the nation’s economy include the Alabama Community College System, 15 colleges in the State of Alabama and multiple manufacturers. The colleges are: Gadsden State Community College, Trenholm State Community College, Wallace State Community College (Hanceville), Central Alabama Community College, Drake State Community and Technical College, Shelton State Community College, Southern Union State Community College, Calhoun Community College, Bevill State Community College, Jefferson State Community College, Lawson State Community College, Coastal Alabama Community College, Snead State Community College, Northeast Alabama Community College, and Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. The manufacturers include: Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai, along with their important tier supply chain counterparts.
Grant initiatives included:
- Multi-system technician emphasis -- Mechatronics
- Seamless career pathways -- Increased initiatives with K-12 education and university transitions
- Professional development, portable credentialing, credit for prior learning
- Co-op/Internship and apprenticeship programs
- Improved data collection and surveying
Overall, CARCAM reached 21,331 educators, students and representatives of industry and government. Events included regional and national conferences, career fairs, summer camps, and professional development workshops. The top products and services were AUT and related degrees, mentoring from CARCAM staff and website/social media. Usage of CARCAM resources has consistently grown over the years. The top CARCAM resources most used by its intended audience were the website and professional development.
Major accomplishments included:
- 19 new or revised MODULES for existing courses.
- 14 courses revised through insertion of new modules.
- 10 new certificates or degrees created using the new modules.
- 11 colleges participated in a credentialing pilot (Prior Learning Assessment).
- 27,191 (duplicated) enrolled in AUT and related courses.
- An average of 78 companies involved in co-ops, internships, and apprenticeships.
- 736 students participated in co-ops, internships, and apprenticeships.
- 374 students were hired after completing co-ops, internships, and apprenticeships.
- 1257 high school students participated in summer STEM Camps.
- Over $307,500 scholarships were awarded only to students at CARCAM member colleges across Alabama by the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association and facilitated by CARCAM.
- Over 79 professional development events were participated in by CARCAM staff and instructors.
- CARCAM has garnered exceptional levels of leveraged funding since its founding – total $51,686,986.
- CARCAM information has been presented at over 73 events.
Intellectual Merit:
CARCAM has helped educate and prepare the technician workforce across the State of Alabama. The Center’s forward-looking technician education in advanced manufacturing has propelled the State’s preparedness and response to meeting the hiring needs of growing industries. Through broad implementation and careful follow up, CARCAM’s work has been institutionalized in Alabama. This leads to multi-skilled technical graduates with state-of-the-art degrees and certificates, which leads to employment for well-qualified technicians in advanced manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace industries and the regional economy. In addition to preparing Alabama’s learners of today and tomorrow, CARCAM implemented innovative professional development for the State’s college faculty and secondary teachers by providing relevant opportunities for the entire community college system and their secondary schools.
Last Modified: 09/19/2018
Modified by: Barry N May
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