ATE Impacts 2020-2021

Enrollment of Underrepresented Populations in Connecticut Community College STEM Programs Since RCNGM Began Black Hispanic Other Total Underrepresented Racial andEthnic MinoritiesEnrolled in STEM Programs Female Fall 2004 Fall 2018 • • • 344 1,200 138 531 792 2,475 540 855 Increase 140% 249% 285% 213% 58% • • RCNGM's advanced manufacturing initiatives for students, educators, and guidance counselors are influencing enrollment of underrepresented populations in STEM programs. RCNGM Partnership with AARP Recruits New Instructors & Mid-Career Students The advanced manufacturing programs in Connecticut's community colleges continuously expand to help fill the thousands of manufacturing positions that will need to be filled over the next two decades. To address the challenge of finding qualified instructors for growing programs, RCNGM expanded its partnerships to include AARP Connecticut to recruit advanced manufacturing technology instructors with extensive industry experience. This partnership has had the added benefit of exposing a new population of adults to advanced manufacturing programs and new manufacturing career opportunities. More than 50 soon-to-be and currently retired advanced manufacturing employees have attended workshops to learn about opportunities to mentor and teach in the programs offered at Connecticut high schools and community colleges. Potential instructors with no prior teaching experience must attend professional development activities to prepare them to teach in a classroom. The partnership with AARP Connecticut has also led to a scholarship program for people who are older than 50 and want to switch careers to advanced manufacturing. Accurate product inspections are important for technicians at medical device companies and other manufacturers. 13