Carroll University STEP Initiative - Engineering in Waukesha County

卡罗尔大学STEP计划（CUSI）解决了威斯康星州沃基夏县工程师短缺的问题。该项目是地区高中、大学和行业之间的合作伙伴关系，旨在提高学生对STEM职业的兴趣，特别是工程，重点是吸引女学生。CUSI加强了现有的项目，包括招聘、保留和毕业生向工程职业的过渡。通过伙伴关系、职业指导和就业安排等方式加强招聘。通过学习社区、指导和为工程预科学生提供实践学习机会和领导力发展的项目，提高了学生的保留率。转型涉及改善与当地工业的联系，旨在增加当地劳动力的毕业生，使他们具备持续成功的必要技能。该项目的评估在很大程度上是基于工程项目的入学率和毕业生的成功增长，以及毕业后的校友活动。该项目的智力价值是为其他小型私立文科机构与地区高中和当地工业合作，扩大和加强STEM途径，鼓励更多学生从事工程职业，并解决当地劳动力短缺和国家对更多STEM毕业生的需求提供榜样。更广泛的影响包括：扩大代表性不足群体在STEM领域的参与，加强教育协作基础设施，在促进教与学的同时推进发现。传播活动包括通过年度工程教育展览向更广泛的社区展示学生项目，并通过期刊/出版物和州/国家会议分享项目数据和信息。

The Carroll University STEP Initiative (CUSI) addresses the shortage of engineers in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. A partnership between area high schools, universities, and industry, the project aims to increase student interest in STEM careers, particularly engineering, with a focus on attracting female students. CUSI strengthens existing programs involving recruitment, retention, and transition of graduates to engineering careers. Recruitment is enhanced by way of partnerships, career guidance and job placement. Retention is strengthened via learning communities, mentoring, and a program that provides hands-on learning opportunities and leadership development for pre-engineering students. Transition involves improved connections with local industry designed to increase graduates in the local workforce who are equipped with the necessary skills for continued success. Evaluation of the project is largely based on successful increase in enrollment and graduates of the engineering program, as well as alumni activity beyond graduation.The intellectual merit of the project is to serve as a model for other small, private, liberal arts institutions to partner with area high schools and local industry to expand and strengthen STEM pathways, to encourage more students to pursue engineering careers, and to address local workforce shortages and the Nation's need for more STEM graduates. Broader impacts include: broadening participation of underrepresented groups in STEM fields, enhancing collaborative infrastructure for education, and advancing discovery while promoting teaching and learning.Dissemination activities include presenting student projects to the broader community through annual engineering education exhibitions, and sharing project data and information via journals/publications and state/national conferences.