FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT
August 1, 2007 Contact: Heidi Butler
Northampton Community College (NCC) has been awarded two grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). College officials learned of the first award on July 18. The notification of the second award came this week.
Together the grants will enable the College to offer more financial aid and educational advantages to students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, math and engineering.
The National Science Foundation is looking to community colleges to be a significant source of brainpower in fields deemed critical to the nation's future. A study conducted by the NSF in 2006 showed that 44% of new scientists and engineers attended a community college at some point in their lives.
The NSF is now directing more funding towards community colleges, investing $82.4 million in 2006, a 13% increase over 2004. Still the grants are not easy to win. Only 25% of the applications the NSF receives are funded.
"We are elated to have won two," says NCC's president, Dr. Arthur Scott. "It is quite an honor. We have strong programs in the sciences and in technical fields. The NSF grants will give us an opportunity to help more students experience how exciting this kind of work is and to prepare them for very rewarding and important careers."
Scott commended the faculty members and grantswriters who worked on the grant proposals. "The faculty are passionate about their work, they are excellent teachers, and they are also go-getters," he said. “They can’t wait to get started.”
Professor of Mathematics Dennis Ebersole of Emmaus will head up the "SMaRT Scholars for Success" project. This grant will provide scholarships, tutoring, career and transfer advising, and networking opportunities for 54 financially disadvantaged, academically talented students majoring in biology, biotechnology, chemistry, chemical technology, computer science, engineering, engineering technology or math/physics at Northampton Community College's campuses in Bethlehem and Monroe County. Mentors and student success specialists will work with students to help them begin to see themselves as successful participants in a community of scientists, engineers, technicians and mathematicians. Dr. Sharon Lee-Bond of Bath, associate professor of biology, will be the co-principal investigator on this project.
The second grant will enable Northampton Community College to work with employers to address current and future workforce needs, to make curricular changes including incorporating more project-based learning in science and technology courses, and to focus on encouraging more students, particularly women and minorities, to choose careers in fields such as electromechanical technology, electronics technology, electrical technology, computer aided design, optoelectronics, computer systems maintenance and nanotechnology. The principal investigator on this project will be Keith Hartranft of Orwigsburg, assistant professor of computer electronics. Karen L. Parker of Danielsville, associate professor of electronics technology, will serve as co-principal investigator.
The National Science Foundation has provided close to $700,000 for the two initiatives: $545,091 over five years for the "SMaRT Scholars for Success" project, and $149,986 over two years for the planning grant.
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