Building a Dynamic University-Community College Partnership: The Second Decade of a Broad, Mutually Beneficial Materials
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MRS Advances © 2018 Materials Research Society DOI: 10.1557/adv.2018.203
Building a Dynamic University-Community College Partnership: The Second Decade of a Broad, Mutually Beneficial Materials Science Collaboration Joshua B. Halpern1, Tito E. Huber1, Scott A. Sinex2, Scott D. Johnson2, Paul Sabila3, Christopher Mbochwa3 1
Department of Chemistry, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, U.S.A.
2
Department of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Prince George’s Community College Largo, MD 20774-2199, U.S.A.
3
Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC 20002, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT
Collaborations between community colleges, non-research centered universities and research universities can enrich the flow of students into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) majors and careers. The nation is beginning to understand the importance of such interaction especially with under-represented minorities and those with disabilities. For over fifteen years our group has developed new ways to integrate these students and their faculty to the research culture. This will lead to increased diversity and inform research university faculty of the great talent that is latent in these underserved pools.
INTRODUCTION Partnerships between universities and community colleges are increasingly important for enriching the flow of students, particularly under-represented minorities and those with disabilities into STEM careers [1-4]. Howard University (Howard below) and Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) have been working together for over 15 years, first in a unique REU program for community college students and since 2006 as part of NSF sponsored research and education programs. The partnership includes collaborative research in materials science and education, creation of instructional materials and new courses that support STEM education at both institutions. About eight years ago the collaboration was enriched by Gallaudet University (Gallaudet below) joining. Support came from NSF sponsorship of collaborations involving Johns Hopkins and Cornell (Partnership for Research and Education in Materials /PREM) and Harvard and MIT (Center for Integrated Quantum Materials STC/CIQM). Key accomplishments include involvement of PGCC and Gallaudet faculty and students with research programs, involvement of Howard faculty in PGCC curriculum changes and student
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successes and the cross-mentoring provided to the student interns by the faculty and staff. Experience shows that everybody benefits from these partnerships. They have changed perceptions on all sides. One of our colleagues wrote to us after being involved with a PGCC student who was mentored both at Howard and Hopkins: In terms of the “transfer student” issue, I am also sure that th
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