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Education

SETWC conducts research and develops innovative educational programs for K-12-graduate students designed to increase awareness, interest, and competency in transportation-related topics.  Check out some of our latest initiatives!


Transformative Technologies in Engineering

Supported by funding from the US Department of Labor, SETWC developed an Engineering Apprenticeship Program (EAP) and a new interdisciplinary course for upper-division undergraduates: Transformative Technologies in Engineering. The program has been instrumental in helping students develop essential professionalism skills, make career connections, and increase knowledge related to innovative technologies in the industry. Learn more about the EAP here!

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Urban STEM Collaboratory

Since 2018, the SETWC-led Urban STEM Collaboratory has engaged faculty and 165 students at three urban campuses, University of Memphis, University of Colorado Denver, and Indiana University Purdue University, in a National Science Foundation S-STEM project involving collaborative research and activities designed to support engineering student success. The research focus is on understanding factors that support students in development of STEM identity and sense of community.  Effective interventions were implemented in combination with financial support. The interventions include peer mentoring, a summer bridge program, the CN academic networking platform, academic year workshops, learning communities, the STEM Ambassador program, and Peer-Led Team-Learning, and were refined across the project period to address a variety of challenges.

The Urban STEM Collaboratory has been successful in meeting its original objectives, including engaging a minimum of 150 students, creating a community of scholars and faculty, and realizing increased academic and degree achievement outcomes for scholars.  Scholars at all three campuses have achieved higher GPAs and more credits toward their degrees than their S-STEM eligible peers.  Learn more about the Urban STEM Collaboratory here.
 
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T-STEM Academy at East High School

The Southeast Transportation Workforce Center (SETWC) was instrumental in launching and continues supporting a Transportation- STEM (T-STEM) focused blueprint through an exemplar high school in the Memphis area as one of the priority action items identified in the SETWC strategic plan. The vision is that this school and its collaborative partnerships will become a local, regional, and national example for preparing students for STEM careers, with particular focus on the transportation industry. The T-STEM model will serve as a platform for truly transformational educational experiences for students that prepare them to be successful in post-secondary career and educational endeavors. 

One recent success with the T-STEM Academy is a fantastic partnership with Cummins, Inc. who, through their Technical Education for Communities Program, supported the development of a diesel technology lab! 

Click HERE to see for yourself what this investment means to the students at T-STEM, as interviewed by WMC-TV!! 

Click HERE to see GOODworks: Cummins TEC Program at East T-STEM Academy by cityCURRENT.

Earlier press: 

Cummins, FedEx, UofM launching global tech program at East's T-STEM Academy, Memphis Business Journal, 1/2/18.

SCS, Cummins partner for technical education expansion at East T-STEM Academy, Commercial Appeal, 1/4/18.     

Cummins Brings Its Global Technical Education Program to the U.S., Business Wire, 1/4/18.

VIEW THE OFFICIAL FLYER
 

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Resources

For Teachers

SETWC Summer Transportation Academy Lesson Plans for High School Students

Agenda, lesson plans, and resources developed by SETWC staff for the week-long summer Transportation Academy for high school students.

 

NanoSonic STEM Lesson Plans

Engaging transportation activities for middle and high school students, all tied to STEM content and concepts!

National Employability Skills Framework   

Central clearinghouse on resources for instruction and assessment for employability skills

Strengthening Skills Training & Career Pathways Across the Transportation Industry       

Fact sheet and full report examining six subsectors in transportation including:  trucking, highway construction and maintenance, transit and ground passenger transportation, rail, air, and maritime transportation

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL) Competency Model         

Collaboratively developed competency model highlighting personal, academic, workplace, industry, and sector competencies necessary for success in TDL careers 

Heavy Highway Civil Construction Competency Model                       

Collaboratively developed competency model highlighting personal, academic, workplace, industry, and sector competencies necessary for success in highway civil construction careers

Transportation Lesson Plans (www.transportationcareers.org)       

Resources developed through Career Clusters partnership between US Department of Transportation and National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education, including transportation careers modules, fully tested problem-based scenarios, and other materials to support integration of transportation topics in the classroom

Transportation Lesson Plans (from University of Memphis Transportation Engineering Careers program)           

Standards-based lesson plans integrating science, technology, engineering, and math content in hands-on, problem-based format set within a transportation context

Go!  Exploring the World of Transportation             

Web resource containing career information, curriculum, articles, and comics related to transportation


For Students

Fast Forward       

Comprehensive, interactive web resource containing transportation career profiles, video interviews of transportation professionals, career exploration newsletter, and transportation-related scholarship and internship opportunities

US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Careers            

Resources highlighting FHWA careers, the online application process, and internship programs

US Department of Transportation Careers in Motion             

Student Employment Initiative resources including internships, volunteer opportunities, descriptions of jobs by college major, and tips for getting prepared for a career with US DOT

O*NET OnLine Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics Career Cluster           

Career resources including job categories, detailed work descriptions, and required skills, knowledge, education, and/or certifications for transportation career cluster occupations with links to job openings, apprenticeships, and training programs

West Tennessee STEM Hub                 

Transportation fact sheets and professional profiles (STEM Spotlights) highlighting transportation career opportunities