Purpose of Grant: The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has announced a national grant competition for the MentorLinks: Advancing Technological Education program, developed with the support of the National Science Foundation. MentorLinks is designed for community colleges seeking to improve technician education programs in the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields. Colleges should be interested in working with an experienced community college mentor who has successfully planned and implemented a major change in a high-technology program.
Project Period: October 1, 2023 – November 30, 2025
Application Deadline: June 27, 2023, 5:00 PM Local Time
Project Description: Mentorlinks is open to projects for program development or enhancement in the following STEM fields: advanced manufacturing technologies, agricultural and environmental technologies, bio and chemical technologies, engineering technologies, information and security technologies, and micro and nanotechnologies.
College applicants must commit to working in a mentoring relationship. Proposals should clearly identify the program to be developed or strengthened; address the need for the proposed program or program modification; identify proposed activities and outcomes; and describe existing assets, such as current financial and intellectual support from business, community, and other education partners. A description of a recent need analysis would be beneficial. Applicants must explain how they would work with a mentor and how a mentor might assist them.
Eligible Applicants:Oonly open to AACC member colleges and to community college programs that are not currently funded through the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program.
Funding: $30,000 for the two-year grant period and travel support for the project director to attend three project meetings.