Cohort Participants
PI-101: Support for New ATE Principal Investigators
Mentor-Connect provides targeted support for new Principal Investigators (PIs) in the ATE program. PI-101 is a free support program specifically designed for first-time ATE awardees.
PI-101 offers personalized guidance and real-time assistance to help new PIs navigate the critical first year of their projects. There are no extra steps to enroll and no added requirements—this resource is available to you as needed, when you need it.
The goal of PI-101 is to help you successfully and confidently manage Year 1 of your ATE project. It’s not meant to add to your workload but to serve as a valuable, easy-to-access support system. As part of the NSF ATE-funded Mentor-Connect project (DUE #2227301), all services are provided at no cost to you.
Cohort Successes
The following list, organized by cohorts, includes all community college teams that have participated in PI101. For additional information about any of these funded projects, visit https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ and enter the NSF grant number.
El Paso Community College
Fullerton College
Linn-Benton Community College
Santa Fe Community College
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Harper College (William Rainey)
Illinois Community College
Southeastern Community College
Dakota College at Bottineau
Independence Community College
Lake Area Technical College
Merritt College - Peralta Community College
Mount Wachusett Community College
National Park College
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesvllle
Antelope Valley College
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Brookdale Community College
Butte-Glenn Community College District
Clover Park Technical College
College of the Muscogee Nation
Collin County Community College
Columbia State Community College
Connecticut Board of Regents For Higher Education - Gateway
Corning Community College
Cuyahoga Community College
Ferris State
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Germanna Community College
Green River Community College
Hudson County Community College
Hudson Valley Community College
Jackson College
Johnston Community College
Kilgore Junior College
Lakeland Community College
Marion Technical College
Miami Dade College
Minnesota- Hibbling
Northeastern Junior College
Pueblo Community College
Renton Technical College
San Diego Miramar College
San Jacinto College District
Southeastern Community College
Tarrant County College District
Virginia Western Community College
Waubonsee Community College
Wenatchee Valley College
Western Wyoming Community College District
Wor- Wic Community College
Zane State College
Mentor-Connect PI 101 Receives HI-TEC’s Innovative Program Award
Mentor-Connect PI 101 Receives HI-TEC’s Innovative Program Award
Mentor-Connect’s PI 101 for new Advanced Technological Education (ATE) principal investigators (PIs) received the Innovative Program Award at the HI-TEC 2024 Conference on July 31 in Kansas City.
The award recognizes the team led by Pamela Silvers, Mentor-Connect co-principal investigator, for developing and implementing “a significant innovation, which has led to a positive impact on student enrollment, retention, and/or advanced technological education.”
“I was very honored and excited when I found out that PI 101 was nominated and selected, because I do think this is a program that is really going to help the ATE community and help new PIs,” Silvers said.
Mentor-Connect brings first-time PIs up to speed with ATE program requirements. During periodic virtual meeting participants also receive guidance on effective leadership and project management.
Mentor-Connect is an ATE project that is based at Florence-Darlington Technical College
Testimonials
Michael LeBlanc, an automotive instructor and department chair at Linn-Benton Community College, has found these connections helpful.
“PI 101 has been a great resource that I have utilized on more than one occasion as a new principal investigator. Having the ability to send an email or make a phone call when I have a question and know that ‘help is on the way’ has been a game changer for me. Also, the ability to attend virtual check-in sessions has helped to ensure our grant effort stays on track and on schedule,” he said during a post-project interview that is part of Mentor-Connect’s continuous improvement effort.”
Candy Mintz, an instructor at Merritt College, gave the program rave reviews.
“PI 101 is a unique and extraordinary program teaching grant management skills to newbie principal investigators. After providing an overview of the grant process and calendar of grant deliverables, the program leaders provided guidance in navigating initiation and execution of our grants, highlighting the calendar of grant administrative deliverables (i.e. time and effort documentation, annual reports, etc.) I would have been overwhelmed without this mentorship and the emotional support when things went sideways,” she wrote in an email, adding, “Mentorship, counseling/shrink services, and cheerleading was always within a phone call or text away. I can’t give enough raves, praise and thanks to Pam Silvers and Emery DeWitt. You and this program rock!!!”
