The Beta Coalition: Regional Collaboration Between 2-Year and 4-Year Engineering Colleges

正在建立一个名为Beta Coalition的地区性联盟，以支持两年制社区学院和四年制小型工程和科学项目，将NSF联盟开发的基于复杂信息技术的项目(如合成和ECSEL)的创新转化为它们可以在有限资源下使用的形式。此外，在小型项目中，很难证明整合数学和科学等基于内容的科目是合理的，因为要求往往是针对某个专业的。然而，写作、计算机应用、图形和设计等以技能为基础的学科的整合可以将不同专业的学生聚集在一个共同的课程序列中。宾厄姆顿大学沃森工程学院和布鲁姆社区学院在各种项目上进行了合作，两所学院的教职员工都有开发综合课程序列的经验。这项提议是基于他们现有的合作努力。正在寻求资金来开发和举办暑期讲习班，在这些讲习班中，半径150英里范围内的其他两年制和四年制学校的教员可以接受培训，并在为自己的机构开发综合课程方面得到支持。将为所需的部门间合作建立一个模式，同时认识到在共享师资和资源方面涉及的特殊体制问题。将评估如何利用综合课程来增加来自代表性不足群体的工程和理科学生的机会和留存率，包括社区大学中通常存在的非传统学生。将开发一个评估系统来衡量方案的有效性，特别是由Beta联盟活动产生的创新。结果和材料将通过互联网以及ASEE的会议和期刊以及其他适当的专业交流进行传播。

A regional coalition, the Beta Coalition, is being established to support two-year community colleges and small four-year engineering and science programs in transforming the innovations based on sophisticated information technology-based programs developed by NSF coalitions such as SYNTHESIS and ECSEL into a form they can use with limited resources. Furthermore, in small programs it is difficult to justify integration of content-based subjects such as math and science because requirements tend to be specific to a major. However, integration of skill-based subjects such as writing, computer applications, graphics, and design can bring students with different majors together in a common course sequence. The Watson School of Engineering at Binghamton University and Broome Community College have worked together on a variety of programs, and faculty at both institutions have experience in developing integrated course sequences. This proposal is based on their existing collaborative efforts. Funding is sought to develop and present summer workshops wherein faculty from other 2-year and small 4-year schools within a 150 mile radius can be trained and supported in developing integrated courses for their own institutions. A model will be created for the needed interdepartmental cooperation, while recognizing the special institutional problems involved in sharing faculty and resources. Ways will be evaluated in which integrated courses can be used to increase access and retention of students in engineering and science from under-represented groups, including non-traditional students commonly present in community colleges. An assessment system will be developed for measuring program effectiveness, particularly innovations springing from Beta Coalition activities. Results and materials will be disseminated via Internet as well as conferences and journals of ASEE and other appropriate professional communications.