Media Contact:
Anna Turnage, College of Education, 919/755-1677

Nov. 5, 2003

Grant Helps NC State Develop Online Community College Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

North Carolina State University’s College of Education has been awarded a $920,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a certificate program in science, technology, engineering and mathematics community college teaching.

The departments of Adult and Community College Education and Mathematics, Science and Technology Education are teaming on the three-year project entitled “Development of Master’s and Online Certificate Programs in STEM Community College Teaching.”

The goals of the project are to:

• Increase the technological literacy of community college faculty by developing and implementing online community college teaching technology certificate programs
• Attract a broader, more diverse audience to teaching science, mathematics and technology in community colleges
• Disseminate information to a national audience while simultaneously soliciting input at project milestones throughout the three-year project development cycle.

The grant allows NC State’s College of Education to offer online courses for a graduate certificate in community college teaching.

“Technology content and its use in the classroom must become a part of the system and culture of community college education to best meet the requirements of future students and prospective employers,” said Dr. Carol Kasworm, head of the Department of Adult and Community College Education. “The need for such programs is mounting at a time of budget shortfalls and a disproportionate number of faculty near retirement in the community college system.”

NC State College of Education faculty, including principal investigator Dr. Duane Akroyd and team members Drs. Ted Branoff and Valerie Chapman, will lead the project with a panel of administrators and faculty from the community college systems of North Carolina and South Carolina.

The courses developed for the graduate certificate will enhance faculty abilities in both online and classroom environments. The project will also provide opportunities for current community college faculty to enhance their skills and certification. Reaching current and aspiring faculty through distance education will strengthen the services the community colleges provide by preparing a new generation of faculty to teach courses in advanced technological applications.

- turnage -