The College of Engineering, Technology & Computer Science participated in the Inaugural Community Celebration and Admissions Ceremony of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Preparatory Academy last week, Middle Tennessee’s first STEM charter school.

The event drew more than 400 new students, parents, community activists, and elected officials to the event held at the Adventure Science Center, the partnering institution.  More than 10 engineering students participated in the event as hosts and chaperones, and will be actively engaged with the middle school through tutoring, projects, and community service starting this Fall.

STEM Prep Academy is Middle Tennessee’s first public charter STEM school committed to delivering a college preparatory education for grades five through eight with an integrated curricular focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Its integrated curriculum that infuses STEM learning and real-world applications in both the STEM fields and entrepreneurship is unprecedented, says Dr. Kristen McGraner, the founder and Executive Director.

Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean of the College of Engineering, Technology & Computer Science at TSU, is equally excited about the school and its potential.  “I believe the solution to increasing the pipeline of STEM professionals for tomorrow’s workforce…begins with improving K12 with how we teach, what we teach, and the engagement of higher education.”

Hargrove serves as a board member for STEM Prep Academy, and is committed to supporting the academic achievement and success of the new innovative school.  Students from the College of Engineering will volunteer and work with the school in tutoring and specials projects.  STEM Prep Academy and the College of Engineering have also collaborated on several proposals to prepare teachers and for curriculum development.

The school will open its doors in South Nashville in July 2011 to 100 fifth grade students, growing a grade each year, and serving 400 students in grades five through eight by 2014.  STEM Prep Academy is a free, public charter school serving students who are zoned to persistently low-performing schools and is part of the growing charter school movement supported locally and state-wide.

Tennessee State University engineering students now have a chance to set sail on the high seas with training from the Naval Engineering Education Center (NEEC). A $1.6 million grant awarded to the University’s College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science will support the NEEC mission to educate and develop world-class naval systems engineers for the Navy’s civilian acquisition, engineering and science workforce.

Established by the United States Navy Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the NEEC consortium is a new initiative comprised of 15 colleges and universities.  “This consortium provides an opportunity for some of the nation’s best engineering colleges to collaborate in research and the production of engineers to address the future workforce challenges of the U.S. Navy,” said Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean of TSU’s College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science.

“The NEEC will provide NAVSEA a pipeline of engineers in critical engineering career fields to address the challenges we face in building and sustaining the 21st century Navy,” said Brian Persons, NAVSEA executive director. “This is a huge step to help address Navy research and engineering development needs and challenges. It is the newest tool in NAVSEA’s Talent Management Strategy to develop, attract and retain the broader more capable workforce.”

The NEEC consortium aims to increase the number of students who graduate with an accredited degree; provide world-class faculty specialized in naval engineering; coordinate employee development opportunities to retain naval engineering talent for the Navy; and increase the availability of naval engineering education programs and courses across universities and colleges.

“As a member of the NEEC consortium, our college will play a critical role in meeting the diversity needs and technical challenges in energy systems, risk and cost analysis, and ship design methods,” added Hargrove.

The consortium will also include the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) and the Society of Naval Architects and Engineering (SNAME) as partners. The U.S. Navy Center for Innovation in Ship Design, located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, will also support the NEEC.