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. 

The hands of a woman shown typing on a computer keyboard with a coffee drink nearby.

Exciting news - the newest ATE program solicitation is now available from the National Science Foundation! The focus of the new solicitation is the same as it’s been in years past in that it provides funds to advance the knowledge base related to technician education.

In this cycle, an estimated 45 to 80 standard and continuing grants will be made totaling approximately $75 million for 2022. Grants may be awarded in a wide variety of sizes and durations. The actual number of awards and sizes are subject to the availability of funds and quality of proposals.

To read about the important updates and revisions to this program solicitation, check out the most recent ATE Impacts blog.

Geospatial Educators Certification program logo

The GeoTech Center is now accepting applications for the next round of the Geospatial Educators Certification (GeoEdC) program. Participants will be provided a $1,000 stipend for successful completion of the program. 

Applications are due by August 16, 2021.To learn more about GeoEdC and to apply, visit the GeoEdC hub site. Questions about the program should be addressed to Michael Ragan or Ken Yanow. 

High Impact Technology Exchange Conference 2021 logo

Always a popular event in the ATE community calendar, the 2021 High Impact Technology Exchange Conference (HI-TEC) will be held virtually this year on Wednesday and Thursday, July 21-22, starting at noon EDT. Community members wanting to attend will need to register either individually or as an institution.

The virtual conference will feature live keynote addresses by industry leaders and panel discussions, as well as a variety of “on-demand” pre-recorded sessions that will be available for six months after the conference. 

For further details about the conference, including the featured panel presentations and registration information, check out the ATE Impacts Blog post and visit the HI-TEC website.

Three people discuss various disabilities

As an advocate for your students with disabilities, it can be challenging to get into discussions with potential employers about providing workplace accommodations. Check out this tip sheet from DeafTEC and AccessATE on Educating the Employer for helpful hints and resources to give employers the information they need about the benefits and requirements that come with hiring persons with disabilities. 

This tip sheet covers workplace accommodations, safety, and confidentiality, and links to additional useful resources. To learn more, be sure to read the AccessATE blog post on Common Workplace Accommodations. 

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.

Image of the Mentor Links banner.

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is pleased to announce a deadline extension for its national grant competition, MentorLinks: Advancing Technological Education program, developed with the support of the National Science Foundation.

MentorLinks is designed for community colleges seeking to develop or strengthen STEM technician education programs. Colleges should be interested in working with an experienced community college mentor who has successfully planned and implemented a major change in a high-technology program.

MentorLinks colleges will receive $20,000 for the 2-year grant period and travel support for the project director to attend project meetings and national conferences (as permissible). The grant’s primary emphasis is on valuable networking, and opportunities for technical assistance and professional development.

The grant period runs October 1, 2021–November 30, 2023. For complete information and to apply by the extended deadline of July 16, please go to www.aacc.nche.edu/MentorLinks.