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    1. Industry Trends

    10 Community Colleges Selected to Advance Innovative STEM Programs via MentorLinks

    July 17, 2014
    The selected colleges will lead innovative projects in biotechnology, biomanufacturing, virtual labs, engineering technology, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, geospatial technologies and cybersecurity.

    Ten community colleges were selected on July 15 as the latest cohort to participate in an initiative that advances STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) technician education programs.

    The selected colleges will lead innovative projects in biotechnology, biomanufacturing, virtual labs, engineering technology, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, geospatial technologies and cybersecurity.

    Through the MentorLinks: Advancing Technological Education program, the colleges will be paired with experienced community college mentors with extensive experience in planning and implementing advanced technology programs. MentorLinks is led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

    Mentors will work closely with their college teams on activities such as curriculum development or redesign, industry engagement, faculty development, student recruitment and retention, virtualization and internships and experiential learning experiences development for both faculty and students.

    AACC has managed the small, yet transformational MentorLinks project since 2002, where assistance to 34 colleges has resulted in the creation of 103 new courses, 15 new associate degrees and 25 new certificates; the development of several industry partnerships and internship sites; STEM program enrollment increases ranging from 14% to 350%; and the leveraging of more than $3.5 million in additional grant funding The program is also aimed at offering opportunities for smaller and rural colleges that often do not have the resources to apply for grant funding and to build or strengthen their STEM programs. Forty-five percent of colleges receiving a MentorLinks award are from rural areas.

    "This program has given a small rural community college the opportunity to see what other curricular development in the area of advanced technology is possible,” said Jim Roomsburg , dean of business; technical education at South Arkansas Community College .

    The 10 selected mentee colleges for the 2014-2016 MentorLinks initiative are Harrisburg Area Community College (PA), Irvine Valley College (CA), Kapi'olani Community College (HI), Mohave Community College (AZ), Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (SC), Patrick Henry Community College (VA), Shoreline Community College (WA), Texas State Technical College Harlingen (TX), Tri-County Community College (SC), and Virginia Western Community College (VA).

    About the Author

    Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor - MH&L, IW, & EHS Today

    Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with Endeavor Business Media and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank.

    She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics, EHS Today, and IndustryWeek. 

    Editorial Mission Statement:

    Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes, and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

    Why I Find Manufacturing Interesting: 

    On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

    I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated, and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.