Faculty
- What activities are faculty members currently involved in?
- Where can I find classroom-ready curriculum?
- What is the HTWI Externship Program?
- How do I get involved?
What activities are faculty members currently involved in?
Program Changes/Additions
Automation Technology Program Launched this Spring at Maricopa Colleges
The inter-relation of Automation, robotics, and manufacturing is often taught at the community colleges. However, in the Fall of 2010, Gateway Community College and Mesa Community College will begin offering Certificates of Completion and an Associate in Applied Sciences in Automation Technology. Why a program that focuses on Automation? "When we surveyed the employers in the valley, many of them were looking to find ways to automate their process, making them leaner and agile in a difficult economy," said Thomas Reyman of Mesa Community College.
Faculty members from Gateway, Mesa, and Chandler-Gilbert Community Colleges collaborated and culled curriculum from their respective campuses to create a program that would allow students to go to 'open labs' and do components of their studies online. "The premise in creating the new program was to serve students who have skills and want to update them, and, those students who are just out of high school and are interested in Automation and Robotics," said Mike Corry of Gateway Community College.
The program, which is scheduled to start in Fall 2010, will work students through a core of Automation classes in Certificates of Completion and allow them to pursue tracks in Process Control Systems and Programming, or, Electromechanical and Hybrid Systems as part of the Associate program. For more information on these classes, contact Gateway Community College or Mesa Community College.
2009-2010 HTWI Externs
Brad Bates, Chandler-Gilbert Community College
- Project: Practical Applications of Carbon Sequestration
- Partner: Diversified Energy
Ui Luu, Glendale Community College
- Project: Solar Technology - Sizing and Engineering of Solar Modules
- Partner: Salt River Project
- Project: Solar Technology - Sizing and Engineering of Solar Modules
- Partner: Salt River Project

Estrella Mountain Community College
- Project: Green Alternatives in Supply Chain Management
- Partner: Advantage Logistics
Where can I find classroom-ready curriculum?
CURRICULUM RESOURCES:
The following recommended websites are searchable databases of free, classroom-ready curriculum, simulations, activities, and other resources.
Manufacturing Education Resource Center
Peer-reviewed educational resources with abstracts.
Your portal to the most comprehensive collection of resources for all types
of engineering education. Includes reviewed and rated resources.
The electronic clearinghouse for exemplary engineering
technology resources.
Resources related to science, math, engineering and technology.
Over 50 virtual introductions to microelectronics, electronics,
instruments, nanoscience, circuits, and semiconductors.
24 electronics learning modules with teacher guides.
If you know of another good resource that should be added to this list, please email jay@azhightech.com.
What is the HTWI Externship Program?
The High Tech Workforce Initiative Externship Program, funded by the National Science Foundation, brings together companies with new technology and faculty members who want to update their curriculum. Faculty members collaborate with a company mentor to complete a mutually beneficial project. Here they use their expertise to benefit the company, and the company will help the faculty member enhance their knowledge of emerging technologies. Then that knowledge is modified and shared as a classroom-ready educational piece across the District and nation.
What are the benefits of an externship?
- Experience
The typical community college faculty member has years of experience in industry and is an expert in the discipline that they teach in. However, with that responsibility comes numerous hours working with students on hands-on projects, grading, and administrative tasks. The incorporation of advisement committees to review curriculum works well, but does not always reflect current industry trends. Because of this, faculty members need to get experience with the newest technology and practices that are occurring now, as they train the future workforce.
- Curriculum
All curriculum that is created as part of an externship is uploaded to the Maricopa Advanced Technical Education Center’s Networks database. Search for their new curriculum at www.matecnetworks.org
How do I get involved?
Both prospective faculty members and industry partners are encouraged to contact Jay Kahl at jay.kahl@domail.maricopa.edu or 480-731-8208. Do not worry if you do not have specified outcomes for the experience itself, but instead have a brief idea of what you would like to see. The application process and Co-Principal Investigator review is designed to help translate these ideas into measureable objectives.