Related Initiatives & Funded Projects

Mentor-Connect engages in and contributes to synergistic projects to further support, expand, and diversify the ATE program. Below is a list of related initiatives and additional funded Mentor-Connect projects that are also broadening the ATE program.

Related Initiatives

Mentor Links

The MentorLinks: Advancing Technological Education program, supported by the National Science Foundation is designed to help colleges develop or strengthen technician training programs in STEM fields through mentoring, professional development opportunities, and technical assistance; to establish connections for colleges to identify new ideas and relationships through networking opportunities at program meetings and Advanced Technological Education (ATE) National Conferences; and to help colleges gain insight about support for building and sustaining new programs.

ATETYC Project

Advanced Technological Education for 2 Year Colleges (ATE-2YC) – March 31, 2021

Award Abstract #1931264

The project will convene annual proposal writing workshops and follow-on mentoring for 2YC STEM faculty members. The project design addresses barriers faced by 2YCs seeking participation in the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program. This project builds on previous projects that facilitated 2YCs in preparing meritorious proposals for NSF grant competitions. The workshops and mentoring by experienced ATE principal investigators and faculty who have served as Program Officers in the Division of Undergraduate Education will strengthen faculty and institutional capacity to pursue NSF support. The expected outcomes include an increase in the number of competitive ATE proposals submitted by 2YC institutions and a stronger STEM grant writing culture for 2YCs. Overall, this project will contribute to the national agenda of strengthening the STEM workforce by empowering more STEM faculty and two-year institutions to compete for meritorious NSF awards that can support education innovations.

Co-Mentoring

To advance technician education, increase community college engagement with the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program, and expand mentoring capacity, Mentor-Connect and participating ATE Centers are collaborating in mentoring prospective ATE grantees.  The Co-mentoring initiative provides support from both ATE Centers and Mentor-Connect while developing an Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant proposal for submission to the National Science Foundation.  Co-Mentored teams benefit from discipline expertise from an ATE Center and technical expertise (e.g., grant proposal preparation, submission, funding, and implementation) from the Mentor-Connect project.

The ATE Center will encourage and support faculty/colleges in their network to pursue ATE funding with co-mentoring support. Prospective grantee colleges/faculty will apply for co-mentoring via an online application on the www.Mentor-Connect.org website, under the tab “Get a Mentor.” Each participating ATE Center website will provide a link to this application as well. The application identifies participating ATE Centers and prominently include logos for participating centers on the application. *Applications received via the online system will be shared with the affiliated ATE Center immediately upon receipt.

Funded Mentor-Connect Projects

HSI ATE Hub

A Collaborative Program combining strategies from NSF-funded KickStarter and Mentor-Connect projects guides two-year Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) STEM faculty toward success with NSF grant funding in the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program. Community-building among two-year college HSIs is another project objective.

The resources in the HSI ATE Hub align to key focus areas critical to transforming STEM Education at HSIs. These include advising, mentoring and non-academic support systems; STEM academic support structure and systems; evidence-based pedagogies; equity, diversity, and culturally responsive practices; and research experiences and high impact practices.