Final Report
Information Technology Workforce Development Grant ProjectOverall ImpactThe Link-to-Learn ITWD grant is largely responsible for significant improvements in the CIS program at Saint Vincent College over the last two years. It has improved the education and IT workforce preparedness of its students, increased their numbers, and further involved area schools and businesses in the whole educational process. Better yet, these improvements are continuing over the next several years. The three overall objectives of the grant project were definitely accomplished. Objective 1 was on increasing the correspondence between the CIS curriculum (and resources) with the needs of area business as well as with national curriculum guidelines. The grant has done this in a significant way. It has made possible new courses in computer security and Oracle database management. It has provided up-to-date hardware and software one level beyond what would have been possible otherwise. Objective 2 called for increasing the number of CIS majors. This total is up substantially: from 59 in 1999 to 76 in 2002. The number of female majors increased from 4 in 1999 to 8 in 2002, though we had hoped to do even better. Some of our efforts, such as the summer computer mini-camp for girls, may help us to recruit females in the years ahead as these girls reach college age. Nevertheless, it is clear that recruiting female majors is very difficult. Objective 3 concerned establishing helpful relationships with area businesses and schools. Although Saint Vincent College has long had good relationships in this area, the grant project helped us to build on the existing relationships and to add new ones. Most of the grant project partners will continue to work with us, so that these relationships will also assist us in the years to come. Continuation of ActivitiesMany aspects of this grant project will continue. The CIS department has already begun plans to again host a Computing Day for area middle and high school students in spring 2003 as well as the summer computer mini-camp for girls in summer 2003. Although some of the smaller activities for such students may not continue, the above activities are by far the largest. Curriculum improvements will also continue. The grant project has helped the department to prepare two new course for the fall. These are in the areas of web page development and computer security. A course on artificial intelligence is also under development for spring 2003. The current version of the Oracle database has been obtained under the grant and is being hosted by a new Linux server that was also purchased under the grant. The latest in Microsoft software development tools has also been obtained. These will be of use in several courses over the next few years. One factor helping to guarantee the continuation of many of the Link-to-Learn project activities is the CIS department's new NSF grant project (grant number DUE-0122934) which provides scholarships for computing majors. It is likely that the state's Link-to-Learn grant assisted us in obtaining this NSF grant, since the NSF looks to see what programs are in place that their grant project would build on. The new grant project has many of the same school and industry partners. These will help in providing internships, career awareness and mentoring opportunities, etc. The partners will come together as an advisory board to assist with planning. Approximately half of the CIS majors are expected to be scholarship awardees under this NSF program. The awardees will be supported through email-based and in-person mentoring, a tutoring program if needed, internships, special events that bring in guest speakers, and so on. Possible visits to the IT departments of area industries are already being discussed. Awardees will also be encouraged to participate in the college's Palumbo grant undergraduate research program. Nearly all of these activities are quite similar to what was done under the Link-to-Learn grant project. The NSF grant does not cover the hiring of student workers or interns by the department, nor does it pay for hardware or software. However, the department's student worker funds are sufficient to continue a fair amount of student work. The college has also promised to follow a periodic update plan for hardware and software, so that improvements in this area are expected to continue. In addition, the college has faculty development funds and can arrange occasional release time in order to assist with further improvements that are not funded by the NSF grant. One faculty member has already obtained funding from the college to assist in the development of a new course. ConclusionThis grant project was a considerable success. Although it did not accomplish a few of the smaller items that were hoped for, it succeeded well in its main objectives. With many aspects of the project continuing, the good effects of this project will go on for many years to come. Both the faculty in the CIS department and our project partners found the ITWD grant program to be very beneficial. The state is to be commended for its support of this and other efforts in the technology area. During 2000 - 2002 this project was supported in part by funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Link-to-Learn Project. Go to the main ITWD Grant Project Page |
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