As a result of the November 14 meeting, Dr. Ed Meadows wrote up the following points of discussion between Community Colleges and Alabama Universities. This version was presented on February 18, 2003 at an ACA meeting held at the University of Alabama. There was some contention over the "Computer Programming using C++ " course.

Tim Greene, the UA dean of engineering, suggested approaching NSF about getting a $50,000 planning grant.

More Later, kwn

ENGINEERING EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP OF ALABAMA (EEPA)

As a result of our meeting held at Jefferson State Community College in December, 2002, I am submitting the major points of our discussion as a draft of curriculum and program initiatives for the EEPA. Please review this draft and make any suggestions and changes and send back to me and I will incorporate into a final document.

EEPA INITIATIVES

$ State-wide Articulation -It is proposed that a subcommittee of instructional deans, two-year college faculty, and appropriate representation of university faculty work together to propose a minimum of two engineering courses to be offered by community colleges in a pre-engineering curriculum. The proposed courses would be a three-credit hour course entitled "Introduction to Engineering" a three-credit hour course entitled "Computer Programming using C++" . These courses would be proposed for inclusion in the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education Academic Inventory and would be listed under the statewide articulation agreement in the STARS database.

$ Direct Institutional Articulation Pilot - Universities would work with selected community colleges on enhanced pre-engineering associate degree programs. This pilot would be a direct articulation between the universities and specific community colleges to increase the number of freshman and sophomore engineering courses. The purpose of this pilot would be to interest non-traditional students and financially needy students who have the academic potential and desire to obtain an engineering degree. Examples of potential Direct Institutional Articulation Pilot Agreements could be Jefferson State Community College and Lawson State Community College with The University of Alabama - Birmingham, Shelton State Community College and Bevill State Community College with The University of Alabama -Tuscaloosa, Southern Union Community College with Auburn University, Calhoun Community College with The University of Alabama - Huntsville, Faulkner State Community College and Wallace State Community College &endash; Dothan with the University of South Alabama.

$ Associate Degree Transfer Completion Strategy - The selected pilot community college and university would work together toward the associate degree for students who transferred after one year of pre-engineering from the community college to the university. After the completion of the sophomore year of engineering, the community college would then award the appropriate associate degree. This initiative could be referred to as the 1 + 1 deferred associate degree program.

$ Pre-engineering Programs - Participating community colleges would establish a pre-engineering program on their campus. These programs would facilitate transition from high school to university engineering programs, and include the following elements.

$ Summer Head start. Under accelerated and dual enrollment agreements, students planning on entering a university engineering program in the fall would be able to take pre-calculus as well as appropriate pre-engineering courses (including introduction to engineering) the summer before.

$ Recruitment of High School Students. Community college personnel, with support from university engineering programs, would raise the awareness of high school students in their community about the engineering profession and engineering education pathways. Recruiting activities would include visits to high schools and junior high schools and sponsoring engineering-related activities and competitions on the community college campus.

$ Scholarships for Pre-engineering Students. Individual community colleges would work with university engineering programs to offer scholarships to students beginning their engineering education at the community college and/or transferring to a university engineering program.

$ Co-op programs. University co-op programs, engineering professional associations and private engineering firms would collaborate with community colleges in enhancing co-op opportunities for students who wish to major in pre-engineering or engineering.

$ Role of EEPA - The Engineering Education Partnership of Alabama would support recruitment of students into community college pre-engineering programs and articulation with university engineering programs through the following activities.

$ Web Page. The Engineering Education Partnership of Alabama would develop a web page promoting engineering as a career, and each university and community college would link their web site to the EEPA site.

$ Scholarships. Universities and community colleges, private sector engineering companies, and engineering professional associations would work together to enhance and increase scholarship opportunities for students taking their first year of engineering at community colleges.

$ Government Grants. Funding, through grants development, would be sought to enhance marketing, scholarships, student recognition, and other activities promoting engineering education.

Please place any comments you may have about this part in the spaced below.