Contact: Robbie Ward
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A partnership between Mississippi State, two state community colleges and other regional partners will help bridge high school students and technical careers involving manufacturing and engineering.
Headed by Sandra H. Harpole, director of the university's Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology, the initiative involves East Mississippi and Itawamba community colleges to help close the gap between K-12 schools, community colleges, universities and manufacturing industries.
Titled "Technology Initiative in Manufacturing and Engineering," the project is funded by a nearly $900,000 National Science Foundation grant. Other partners include the Mississippi Department of Education, Columbus Air Force Base and a number of regional industries.
"This partnership will expose high school students to careers in technical fields in the state and the path to getting there," said Harpole, an MSU Grisham Master Teacher and nationally recognized former high school physics teacher.
The program will allow high school students, whether workforce or college bound, to "test-drive" high-tech careers while gaining required workplace skills. It also will help their school counselors and science, technology and mathematics teachers learn about career opportunities and technical job-skill requirements, as well as the latest ways to apply science, technology, engineering and mathematics in their academic curriculum.
Participating students in grades seven-12 will complete coursework at the community colleges during the fall and spring semesters, then take part in industry-based experiences during the summer. They also will have opportunities for summer coursework.
The student program will begin Jan. 11 at the Pontotoc Ridge Vocational Technical Center; teachers will begin their engagement in June.
Harpole said the program can serve as a model for both the state and region.
"This will better prepare students to enter the workforce and has the potential to increase opportunities for under-represented groups to enter highly technical fields," she added.
MSU's Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology annually brings high school teachers to campus and area industries each summer for its "Industry, Education and Partnerships workshop. The goal of that program seeks to help instructors answer the perennial student question: "How will I ever use science and math in the real world?"