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CONNECT Chronicle
September 5, 2013 |
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CEO Discussion of Advanced Manufacturing held August 8 at ATMC
Since June, CONNECT has been organizing a series of industry-specific breakfasts to improve alignment of our educational programming with workforce needs in specific industries. The first meeting, focused on Life Sciences, took place in June at Bridgewater State University. The second, concentrating on Advanced Manufacturing, was held August 8 at UMASS Dartmouth's ATMC in Fall River. Seventy-five leaders from higher education, economic development, and industry attended. The program began with an overview of data about coming employment needs in manufacturing, presented by Dr. Michael Goodman. Nancy Snyder, president of the Commonwealth Corporation, moderated the discussion with representatives of leading area companies AccuRounds (Avon), Acushnet Company (Fairhaven), Controls for Automation (Taunton), and Precix (New Bedford). A video of the discussion and Dr. Goodman's Powerpoint presentation are available at the CONNECT website. Read coverage of the event from the Southcoast Business Bulletin here. To see the related article referencing both workforce breakfasts, click here. |
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Reverse Transfer Pact Yields First Graduate
 In Spring 2013, the CONNECT colleges and universities finalized a reverse transfer agreement. This agreement allows students who transfer from a community college (Bristol, Cape Cod, or Massasoit) before completing all associate's degree requirements, to earn those degrees by transferring back credits earned at the four-year university (Bridgewater or UMass Dartmouth).
The Reverse Transfer Program has now yielded its first graduate. Dylan Miller, currently a Civil Engineering major at UMass Dartmouth, was just a few classes away from earning his associate's degree in pre-engineering and mathematics at Cape Cod Community College when, as he says, "stuff came up and I had to go to work." He had always planned to transfer after two years at Cape Cod - so on to UMass Dartmouth he went.
Dylan was enrolled at UMass Dartmouth and was just finishing classes in Technical Communication, Bio-engineering, Philosophy, Art History, and Chemistry when he received the letter inviting him to participate in the Reverse Transfer Program. Was the process easy? "Super easy," says Dylan. "All I had to do was fill out the paperwork. Since I was already taking the classes, I didn't have to do anything extra." The classes Dylan was taking at UMass Dartmouth filled the elective credits he need to complete his associate's degree at Cape Cod Community College. He graduated from the college on August 30, 2013.
Two other students, Jacob Lemieux and Kevin Medeiros, graduated in August from Bristol Community College through the Reverse Transfer Program. Fifty-five other students were identified as eligible to participate in the Reverse Transfer Program in the first round, and may yet earn degrees. Bridgewater State University and UMass Dartmouth will continue inviting new students who are close to finishing their associate's degrees into the program every year. For more information on reverse transfer, visit the CONNECT website. |
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CONNECT News and Events
CLDP Alumni Program
Friday, October 4, 2013, Bridgewater State University
CONNECT's Collaborative Leadership Development Program is marking its tenth year. Participants from all past years of the program are invited to come together for a day of advanced training and networking with CLDP classmates. A morning session with Ed Mitnick of Just Training Solutions will focus on ethics in the workplace, with a title of "Standing Up and Doing the Right Thing." Dr. Sabrina Gentlewarrior, director of Institutional Diversity at Bridgewater State University, will lead an afternoon discussion on Diversity Leadership.
Registration is limited to 65; a link for registration will be sent to all CLDP alumni by each campus's Human Resources officer. Please contact your college's HR Director for more information about the conference, or about the Collaborative Leadership Development Program.
Aligning STEM Workforce and Education - SE MA STEM Network Annual Meeting
Wednesday, October 16, 2013, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Brennan Middle School, Attleboro
Join U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell Chester, and leaders from STEM industry and education, to discuss how we can better align education with workforce needs. More STEM workers are needed across the whole educational spectrum, from high school graduates to certificate earners to associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree holders. How are we working to make sure students at all levels are aware of the STEM employment opportunities that are available to them, how are we preparing students across the spectrum to be ready for jobs in STEM, and where is the room for improvement?
The agenda includes: Networking - Visiting Exhibitors - Registration at 3:00 p.m.; Welcome and Introduction of the SE MA STEM Network at 3:45; Panel Discussion beginning at 4:00 p.m.; Roundtable Discussions and Report Out at 5:00 p.m.; and Meeting of Potential Partners and Resource Gathering at 5:15 p.m.
Registration is open now. Click here to register.
Transitioning to New State Standards and Systems: Collaborating for College Readiness
Friday, October 25, 2013, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Taunton Holiday Inn
High School and District curriculum directors, teachers, department chairs, superintendents, principals, vice principals, and guidance counselors are invited to join college instructors and college administrators focusing on the first-year experience and developmental education. Secondary and higher education stakeholders will meet face to face to discuss the impact of the New State Standards and Assessment System on classroom pedagogy and college readiness.
The agenda includes: Registration at 9:00 a.m.; Keynote "What is College Readiness" at 9:30 a.m.; Breakout Sessons "College Readiness: The View from Higher Education (Math and ELA)" at 10:00 a.m.; Lunch at 11:30 a.m.; Breakout Sessions: "PARCC: Assessing College Readiness with Sample Items and Rubrics" at 12:15 p.m.; "Realigning Curriculum and Instruction for College Readiness" at 1:15 p.m.; and Closing Remarks and Evaluation at 2:30 p.m.
Funding for substitute teachers is available to the first 100 registrants who request them. Click here to register now.
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To suggest future articles or calendar notices to appear in the CONNECT Chronicle, please email Kim Williams, CONNECT Staff Assistant, at kim.williams@connectsemass.org. All events to be included must be open to participants from all CONNECT member institutions. |
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