How is NSF involved with the RCCD CACT?


ATE Project Summary

Close the Gap: Engineering Technology Education and Industry Partnership
Host Institution: Riverside Community College, Riverside, California (RCC
Participating Institutions: Norte Vista High School, Chaparral High School, Riverside County Regional Occupational Program, Riverside County Economic Development Authority (EDA), Project Management Institute of the Inland Empire, and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Program Focus Areas: Program Improvement and Technical Experiences. Close the Gap will:
  • create and redesign engineering technology courses to address preparation gaps identified by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
  • provide RCC and Cal Poly student team leaders paid project management workshops
  • initiate student field experiences and work placements with local industry
  • create a Summer Innovation Institute to recruit diverse middle and high school students
  • involve industry and academic representatives in planning/advisory roles
  • establish teacher workshops to apply Close the Gap methods to the classroom

Close the Gap will link regional high schools serving diverse low-income communities that have model math, science, engineering, and technology programs to RCC. Riverside County EDA's Workforce Development Centers will work with faculty on establishing internships in local industry. Students will learn through industry-like environments, e.g., student teams will design, produce and manage projects integrating industry standards. Students will also participate in Cal Poly engineering technology program competitions and present at conferences.
Disciplinary Focus: Engineering technology comprises Mathematics, Physics, and Manufacturing Engineering. Courses include: Physics for Technologists, Statistics for Technologists, Service Learning -- Handicapped Product Design and an engineering / manufacturing technology capstone course with a strong project management emphasis.
Intellectual Merit: RCC develops this project in strong collaboration with Cal Poly Pomona's Engineering Technology program, including Cal Poly's entrepreneurship institute and service learning program. In addition, Close the Gap counts on the advisory assistance of Dr. George Sehi, of Sinclair Community College, who supervises an NSF National Center in Manufacturing Education and evaluation expertise of Dr. Mohammad Zahraee of Purdue University, Calumet. Students will learn core competencies reinforced by regional industry field experiences. This approach will identify students early in their academic careers Disciplinary Focus: Engineering technology comprises Mathematics, Physics, and Manufacturing Engineering. Courses include: Physics for Technologists, Statistics for Technologists, Service Learning -- Handicapped Product Design and an engineering / manufacturing technology capstone course with a strong project management emphasis. and will familiarize students with academic and professional environments. Close the Gap will prepare students to move into family supporting employment and/or an A.S. degree in Engineering Technology, and possible transfer to Cal Poly Pomona's Engineering Technology baccalaureate program.
Broader Impacts: RCC is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI with 52% minority enrollment) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (H.S.I. with 32% Hispanic enrollment) with over 30,000 students. Close the Gap will use the following recruitment pathways:
  • Targeting potential students from among RCC's diverse populations.
  • Diverse students enrolled in area high school engineering technology programs.
  • Summer Innovation Institute targeting middle and high school students.