T-CUP: TWO + THREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS PROJECT: AN INNOVATIVE PILOT MODEL FOR BROADENED PATHWAYS INTO TECHNICAL CAREERS

摘要

For more than a decade, consensus-style national reports have called for more effective use of the community college campus as a strategy for realizing broader participation of diverse populations in engineering and other technical careers. The attention that has been directed toward community college pathways is motivated by several attractive qualities that these campuses offer. First, community college faculty are experienced in remediation, an increasingly important issue for all engineering schools in the U.S. They are well positioned in this regard to participate in workforce transitions, (e.g., second careers), or returning to school after extended periods of time. Second, community college tuition is more affordable than tuition fees at four-year campuses; hence, community colleges offer a practical alternative for financially sensitive students and their families. Third, community colleges typically offer greater flexibility in course scheduling, often catering to the needs of part-time students (e.g. working students). Cumulatively, the above factors outline a compelling argument to look to community colleges to broaden participation in engineering and other technical careers. Accordingly, Norfolk State University (NSU) has outlined a curriculum leading to the Bachelor (BS) and Master of Science (MS) in Engineering degree in three years beyond the Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE) degree. The Two Plus Three Community College to University Programs (TT-CCUP or T-CUP) project was launched in fall 2010 by NSU and four collaborating two-year institutions: Central Virginia Community College (CVCC), College of Southern Maryland (CSM), Northern Virginia Community College, Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC), and Tidewater Community College (TCC). Student participants in the T-CUP program complete the can earn the BS and MS degrees in Electronics Engineering (EEN) or Optical Engineering (OEN) after completing the ASE from a partner campus. Given the current national imperative to increase enrollment and completion of graduate engineering degrees, the ability to earn the MS within three years beyond the ASE is viewed as an important feature of T-CUP. However, T-CUP also features a number of additional structures to support student retention and success. The 2010 academic year has been used as a planning year, and this paper outlines the salient program features upon which T-CUP has been developed.