Convergence Technology Center Collin Overview

1. Convergence Technology Center Collin Overview Bill Blitt, Dean, Business, Information, and Engineering Technology Ann Beheler, PI February 12, 2009

2. Collin College Continuing Partnership – Grant and College programs • Faculty and programs • Dean Blitt lead • David Galley, Interim Director replaced Wayne Jones • Grant supports faculty and programs • Ann Beheler, PI, lead

3. Collin College As in previous years, we tend to talk about accomplishments for the whole grant, not just Collin since Collin is the lead

4. It Continues to be a Major Awareness Campaign • In Fall, 2004, most people said “Convergence? What’s that?” • Now, it’s “Green IT – What’s that?” • With a variety of events, work with the partners we now have recognition and more for convergence with • 5400+ faculty and staff • 68,000+ students and parents • 3800+ business people

5. Results • Majors are up • Graduates slowly growing • Enrollments are steady • Underserved enrollments up • New opportunities through articulation agreements • Conscious student recruitment to address different populations • Professional development for Collin faculty has been and continues to be extremely valuable, especially with the current economic climate

6. Activity Highlights • Collin led this year in pushing Green IT Summit held November 14, 2008 • Collin is leading in development of • Online version of Convergence + curriculum– now posted on the web • Advanced VoIP curriculum • Rework of VoIP curriculum

7. Activity Highlights • Presentations by faculty and grant staff • NCTT summer and winter conferences • League for Innovation CIT and Innovations Conference • Green IT Summit • Working Connections 7th year during summer 2008 • Continuing outreach to high schools • Working Connections Annual Training Week – this year is the 8th year

8. Goal 1 Curriculum Collin has developed Convergence Technologies AAS Degree and Certificates: • AAS – Associate of Applied Science • Certificates • Convergence Technology • IP Specialization • Enhanced Cert.– Voice Over IP Expert (not all courses offered yet) • Marketable Skills Certificate – Home Technology Integration – 9 credit hours

9. Student Population • New students and students seeking retraining • Students pursue Convergence Technology • For “just in time training” for employed students • To obtain a job • To begin a career

10. Conscious Student Recruitment • TechKnowFire, for example • Early evening technology presentation with • “Green” presentations of telepresence by Ron Halbach of Nortel and Scott Veibell of Cisco • Introduction via web by Ann Beheler from California

11. Conscious Student Recruitment • It’s not all numbers; it’s not all direct contact; it’s about targeted effort (and a little serendipity) • TechKnowFire numbers were small, BUT, targeted • At least one attendee phoned her boyfriend during the presentation and told him to “get over here!”

12. Graduates • First certificate/degree recipient was Mary Hawkins, Fall 2006 with AAS degree Spring 2007 • Three others received AAS degrees • Total of 11 certificates • One pending degrees • Two pending certificates

13. Majors Have Increased • Spring 2008, 55 Declared Convergence Technology majors (11 more than last year)

15. 35 women 11.86% 61 women 13.2%

18. Articulation/Transfer Opportunities Continue • University of North Texas – BA in IT • 18 semester hours of technical courses directly transfers, along with general education courses • Initial class had 42, including a Collin Convergence grad (and a Convergence faculty member from El Centro) • Continuing Opportunities include • Fort Hays State University • Texas A&M Commerce

19. Curriculum in a Box Faculty, adjuncts, and even a former student involved in developing curriculum for: • Online Convergence Technology • Advanced VoIP

20. Goal 2 Professional Development • Joint Faculty Meetings • Faculty participated in revalidating skills mapping in August 2008 • VoIP training for partner and mentored college faculty, December 2008 • Working Connections IT Faculty Development Institute for 80-100 faculty each year (now going into 9th year)

21. Goal 3 Recruiting Under- served Populations • Still room for improvement, and this is a major focus of the new grant • Minority populations are up over Fall 2004 • Women – 35/61 (74%) • African Americans – 27/64 (137%) • Hispanics – 25/46 (83%) • Note that this is a continual effort because students come and go semester by semester

22. Goal 4 - Dissemination • Led by Collin with Co-PI’s, grant staff, and other faculty we’ve presented for • Course Technology Conference San Francisco • League for Innovation in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, N.C., New Orleans, Nashville, Salt Lake City • AACC in Long Beach, Tampa, Philadelphia • NCTT summer and midyear workshops every year • Synergy06 and 08 in Boston and Phoenix, respectively • TACTE in Austin, TX • ATE Conference in Washington, D.C. every year

23. The Grant Has Provided Funding and Focus and Vision • Curriculum • Professional Development • Stronger relationships with business • Equipment • National attention

24. Questions • Bill Blitt, bblitt@ccccd.edu • Ann Beheler, abeheler@ccccd.edu This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0402356. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation