National Science Foundation / Advanced Technology Education Program

---

The OCtech Diverse Engineering Pathways project is funded by the National Science Foundation ’s Advanced Technology Education (ATE) division. Its goal is to: Increase both the number and diversity of students who enter and complete associate degrees in existing and emerging Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) cluster disciplines.

Diverse Engineering Pathways promotes access to STEM careers and provides courses for under prepared students, especially women and under represented minorities. Grant strategies include high school STEM career majors, such as pre-engineering courses using the Project Lead The Way® national model and the development of a new Mechatronics curriculum; middle school STEM exploration activities and summer camps high school Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs); college curriculum and program revision that will include secondary and postsecondary faculty and student cooperative projects and mentoring using a technology platform for remote equipment and process diagnostics and collaboration; faculty development; and broad industry involvement in curriculum development, internships and co-op opportunities, scholarships, and Foundation support.