Pre-engineering students majoring in computer and electrical engineering can now complete all of the required general education courses, all prerequisite courses, and all engineering courses through the third year of a four-year engineering program, at either the California State University (CSU)-Bakersfield campus or the CSUB Antelope Valley campus. This is a specially designed, seamless program offered as a joint effort by CSU-Bakersfield, CSU Fresno and CSU-Northridge. A complete spectrum of computer and electrical engineering classes is offered.

The City of Lancaster is converting the old Challenger Center into the Lancaster University Center. Beginning mid-August this Center will house: a) CSU Bakersfield classes; b) An adjacent structure is being constructed for engineering laboratories to support; c) CSU Fresno electrical, computer and mechanical engineering degrees; and d) Other engineering disciplines will be added as the program matures.

Engineering degrees will come from CSU Fresno.

Local students will now be able to obtain an engineering degree without having to leave the Aerospace Valley.

We have a NASA real time “test monitoring” station at Joe Walker Middle School where students can monitor real-time test data and work alongside the test engineers. We are working on expanding this program to Mojave High School.

We are establishing math and science teacher industry visits. This program was introduced to allow science teachers to experience the kinds of activities scientific and engineering graduates get involved in. After touring the facilities, teachers had lunch with recent graduates and learned first hand what they were working on. The first visit to the B-2 was highly successful with the teachers leaving excited about what they learned.

We have solicited volunteer mentors from industry to assist students with senior projects.

Industry is also determining how many “interns” they can employ. Security clearances have hindered this effort to provide meaningful work for students.

We implemented Project Lead the Way, a pre-engineering “hands on” program for middle and high schools.

PLTW was implemented at Lancaster High School this past September. They expected around 15 students. Had 50 enroll. Students are raving about the program. Tehachapi and Highland High Schools will implement PLTW in September 04. Tehachapi has 50 students and Highland has 90 students signed up. Highland could have as many as 120 when classes begin.

PLTW did not have an aerospace module in their program. So we worked with PLTW curriculum developers, and NASA engineers to develop an aerospace module for the PLTW program beginning at the 3rd grade. This module will be tested in the local area next year before exporting it nationally.

Several local schools are using Society of Automotive Engineers “World in Motion” program. This is a free “hands-on” project oriented program for 4-8 grades and can be used as a lead in to the PLTW curriculum.

Students are making visits to Mojave Airport and Edwards for job shadowing. We are working on additional job shadowing sites.

Working with NASA to establish an Aerospace Valley Research Institute. If successful, UCLA and UC Davis said they would be interested in providing a PhD. Program and perform research for NASA.

The Consortium has joined forces with the University of Kansas and Emry-Riddle University to apply for a grant for a “Center for Intelligent Vehicles”. This initial grant is to study the feasibility of locating a “Center” in the Aerospace Valley to perform research on uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs).

NASA has a professional development training program for pre-engineering middle and high school teacher teams. We are encouraging local teachers to avail themselves of this training.

EDUCATION WORKING GROUP STATUS

Report by Robert Johnstone

ECA Education Project Leader

March 2006

The ECA Education Working Group has several education related issues in the works.

Lancaster University Center – Engineering Laboratories.
The first and most important is the development of the engineering laboratories at the Lancaster University Center. The escalating costs of construction for the mechanical engineering laboratory have necessitated a change in plans for the University Center. The costs for the ME building alone have exceeded the money available by the City so the ME building will be completed, but the modulars from the base will not be moved into the University complex, unless sufficient funds are found from other sources to move the buildings and renovate them inside and out. This will require the EE and CE courses to continue being taught in the existing class rooms in the Challenger Building. The positive side is this change in plans should not impact the graduation schedule for the first students. A summer session will probably be required, but this is feasible and CSU Fresno has already granted tentative approval for this session if required. Fresno does not normally offer summer sessions in engineering. As soon as the construction schedule is solidified a ribbon cutting event will be scheduled. Completion of the Laboratories will complete the initial plans for the University Center.

Higher Education in Aerospace Valley
The Antelope Valley Board of Trade has made higher education in the Aerospace Valley their number one education priority. They will be hosting a Dialogue on Higher Education on May 26th at the Fairgrounds. The BOT has sent out approximately 100 invitations to organizations throughout the region requesting their participation in the Master Planning effort. This all day event will introduce decision makers and interested parties to the issues involved with establishing a comprehensive university in the region. A major part of this effort is preparation of a Master Plan on Education in the region. ECA is well represented in this effort with Les Uhazy and Bob Johnstone playing key roles in the preparation of the Master Plan. The Lancaster University Center is considered as the starting point for a four-year university. The area frequently referred to as the Aerospace Valley is Santa Clarita north to Ridgecrest and Tehachapi east to Barstow/Victor Valley. This is the region being considered initially as the service area for a university. The geographic boundaries of the service area may change as not all communities may be interested in participating. Preparing the Master Plan and working toward getting a university will be a significant effort requiring the expertise and cooperation of the entire region. Our planning team briefed the Antelope Valley Schools Trustee’s Association on our planning efforts on March 28th. This was our first briefing to the schools which are going to be a major player in this planning effort. The briefing was well received and several trustees said they will send letters of support for the university program.

Workforce Innovation and Training Grants
The California Space Authority was recently awarded a $15 million grant over a period of three years. This grant is aimed at workforce innovation and training of the workforce. Locally the Board of Trade, Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance, Antelope Valley College and the Lancaster University Center are partners. Additionally, the Kern County Economic Development Corporation is a member. These organizations will be working together to establish programs in the region to enhance our workforce and to provide an inventory of assets available for entrepreneurial businesses.

Once again, ECA is well represented with MSET members on each of these teams. The partnerships and alliances mandated by this grant should provide a mechanism for strengthening ECA’s efforts on education. The Lancaster University Center was chosen to participate due to the MSET’s efforts in advocating higher education needs and establishing a consortium that led to the University Center to meet industry’s skill requirements. This grant will continue this effort on a regional basis. Thirteen California counties and 68 organizations in California are grant partners, including California’s Department of Labor which serves as the arm of the Labor Department in Washington.