Tidewater Community College - STEM Fleet-Forward Initiative
Abstract
ABSTRACT Tidewater Community College Center for Military and Veterans Education STEM Fleet-Forward Initiative “Releasable to public” To build a pipeline of career-ready employees and address the need for STEM-related workforce, both uniformed and civilian, the Center for Military and Veterans Education (CMVE) at Tidewater Community College (TCC) proposes a STEM Fleet-Forward Initiative (STEM-FFI). STEM-FFI will be a pilot program aimed at increasing the academic achievement and employability of military-related individuals—active duty, reserves, National Guard, Coast Guard, veterans, and spouses—who are pursuing careers in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Key program components include: (1) raising awareness of STEM-related civilian occupations; (2) linking military occupations to academic programs and civilian careers; and (3) addressing barriers to success in STEM fields. STEM-FFI will be an online platform that functions as a dynamic communication and career-readiness resource center. Participants will be able to access education, training, and employment opportunities in STEM fields relative to the military, defense-related industry sectors, and the civilian workforce that lead to personal economic security, development, and growth, as well as drive regional economic development. STEM-FFI will strengthen the academic and soft skills that facilitate the career and employment readiness of military-related individuals. Four key focus areas are: (1) promoting STEM career pathways through webinars, events, speakers, and collaborative programs that promote information sharing, networking, and opportunities for military-related individuals in STEM fields; (2) recognizing military prior experience for college credit; (3) enhancing academic support through focused academic advisement for STEM careers, structured math pre-placement preparation, and academic financial planning; and (4) providing STEM employment support through military focused soft-skills training, internships, on-the-job training, entrepreneurship training, apprenticeships, mentoring, education fairs, and employment opportunities to include campus-based job fairs and electronic employment placement. TCC offers ten STEM degree and certificate programs that align with Office of Naval Research (ONR) activities in engineering, information technology, and the sciences. STEM-FFI will support the overall mission of ONR by focusing on military-related individuals’ development in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering; information technology and cybersecurity; and other STEM-based programs offered at TCC and other Virginia community colleges. Through program demonstration and evaluation using data and statistical analysis, STEM-FFI will provide ONR with a nationally scalable model that can be used to improve the employment readiness of transitioning military to STEM-related civilian careers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141512424
Entities
People
- Calvin R. Scheidt
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Virginia Community College System