Project Lead the Way goes to the North State

1. Project Lead the Way goes to the North State …..or, how we get STEM to the classroom in Happy Camp A collaboration between the College of Engineering, Computer Science, & Construction Management and the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

2. Introductions: • Jerry Hight, Assistant Dean for External Relations, College of ECC • Dr. Michael Ward, Interim Dean, College of Natural Sciences Past Interim Dean, College of Business Dean Emeritus (8 years), College of ECC • Also known as: “The Most Interesting Dean in the World”

3. Our Service Region & Composition • 12 counties – mostly rural & below poverty line, pervasive unemployment • Comparable in size to the state of Indiana • 16,500 students on campus – 30% from Service Region (4,950 of approx. 80,000 college age)

4. Engineering and the Sciences at Chico State: • Enroll fewer regional students than the campus average • Have lower persistence rates for first-time freshman and JC transfer populations • Experience the “lion’s share” of program transfers on campus – out of these programs! • Are the object of critical focus on state and local edicts like “Aim for Four” and “Take Two” • Demand better prepared students as we meet industry demand for better skilled grads

5. Where we started: • Duane Crum introduces Mike to PLtW in 2008 – beating the drum since • Inspire High School for the Arts & Sciences – Implementation in 2011 • We’ve given time, talent, & treasure • Shared expertise and intellect • Multiple collaborations • Verizon partnership • College-campus concept • Connection with NextEd

6. Where we are today: • Campus commitment to PLTW and to partner with NextED – three partnering colleges, the “might” of university's teacher training apparatus, connection to our resources • ECC & NSCI – 30 open slots for PLTW/STEM regional graduates • Butte County Office of Education – Superintendent Tim Taylor – 1st District to “step up” – providing seed funding and leadership • Paradise Unified joins NextEd collective – PLTW HS implementation Fall 2014, middle school and K-6 program linkages in 2015 • Six county districts within consortium, with eight high-schools, eight middle schools, and thirty-two elementary schools targeted • Broad coalition of funding partners and likely philanthropic supporters for this effort • Planned immediate expansion of effort to Tehama and Shasta counties

7. Where do we go tomorrow? • Formalize NextEd partnership and training hub designation • Propagate school sites broadly and rapidly • Provide support structures and tech backbone • Broaden corporate partnerships and philanthropic reach • Join the PLTW community of scholars • Curriculum development (rural needs/conditions) • Innovation (PLTW where there is no broadband) • Embed MESA-like student services and scholarship support to PLTW grads coming to ECC and NSCI • Build upon the notion that the more we educate and “grow our own” the stronger the likelihood those grads will stay within the region and build the economy here

8. Contact Information: Dr. Michael Ward Interim Dean, College of Natural Sciences mward@csuchico.edu 530.898.6121 Jerry Hight Assistant Dean, College of Engineering jhight@csuchico.edu 530.898.4508

9. THANK YOU!