Mar 10
6
This letter of intent is to provide notification of my plans to submit a Strategic Directions Initiative (SDI) proposal requesting funding for the electric race car project. A similar proposal was submitted for the first round of grants, but was not funded. Following is a portion of the executive summary from that proposal:
The NNNN School of Engineering and Technology (E&T) has identified electric vehicles as an important developing technology and is committed to developing research and development expertise as well as academic programs in this area. Activities in several areas are underway to fulfill this objective:
E&T is a partner in AdvanceTek, Inc. which includes Electricore, the Mid-America Electric Vehicle Consortium.
AdvanceTek is a nonprofit organization which is an agent of YUZX.
E&T has developed a business plan in conjunction with AdvanceTek for the Electric Vehicle institute of NNNN (EVI) and, with seed money form YUZX administration, is currently searching for a director.
E&T faculty are involved in electric vehicle and battery technology research funded by General Motors, Delphi Automotive Systems Group.
E&T has designed and constructed a high-performance electric vehicle. The car is used to participate in a national electric vehicle competition series and serves as a promotional tool for the school and YUZX campus.
The competition series for high-performance electric vehicles is limited to engineering schools and incorporates student designed and constructed, battery-powered electric vehicles. these vehicles are open wheel, single seat designs similar to Indy cars. The vehicles have performance capability of 130+ mph. E&T began participating in the competition series during 1995 and achieved almost immediate success, winning the third competition entered. Also, during 1995, the electric car was displayed in more than 25 events including professional meetings, industrial and technical conferences, campus activities, campus tours, and science fairs. This proposal requests funds to support the E&T electric vehicle. Requested funding areas include: summer salary for faculty; support for E&T office of development; compensation for students; travel expenses, and seed funds development of research utilizing the vehicle.
The matching funds for this proposal include the cost of faculty release time; student and faculty travel expenses, and supplies and expenses associated with the upkeep of the car. An exact budget has not yet been established but can be estimated at $30,000 (including faculty release time).
Title of Proposal: Tech Team 2000
Brief Description:
Tech Team 2000 proposes to establish an electric-powered go-kart race circuit, Electrathon NNNN, in cooperation with six high schools (initially).
Abstract
Tech Team 2000 proposes to establish an electric-powered go-kart race circuit, Electrathon NNNN, in cooperation with six high schools (initially) for the purpose of introducing high school educators and students to advanced electric/hybrid vehicle and electronics technology; to practical problem solving using math, science and applied engineering principles; to career opportunities; to competition on the race track; and to team interaction using the WWW. Five existing, successful projects, blessed with deep industry involvement, will provide an infrastructure of applicable, demonstrable technology:
Electric Vehicle Institute of NNNN – is preparing undergraduate instruction on electric/hybrid vehicle technology, establishing an automotive lab equipped with dynamometer and battery testers, and linking faculty and students with industry.
Formula Lightning Electric Race Car and Race Team – This race winning team will transport an Indy style electric race car to high school sites, assign a team mentor, assist the high school staff in forming their go-kart race team, and help them prepare for competition;
Mobile Electronics Manufacturing Laboratory – a 40 ft. mobile manufacturing laboratory will be used by high school educators to introduce students to manufacturing technologies and careers;
Web Lab- the laboratory in which high school educators and students will prepare team web pages; chat rooms for information exchange; publish race rules, principles of operation and other racing documentation; and prepare a handbook for future go-kart race teams; and
Teach the Technology-practicing industry and utility company engineers will visit high school sites and provide lectures on commercialized electric vehicle technologies (GM’s EVI) and the infrastructure necessary for extensive deployment.
Abstract
The purpose of this proposal is to fund the Division of Education and the School of Social Wwork to engage in a partnership with the South CITY Community School Corporation in the establishment of an alternative middle/secondary school, the Hamilton Learning Center (HLC), for at-risk urban youth. This partnership will provide a unique learning environment for IUSB undergraduate and graduate students and faculty in teacher education, counseling and social work. The HLC will provide a living laboratory for all parties to work together developing educational, counseling and social work techniques effective with at-risk adolescents. Interactive distance learning, the internet, and other instructional technologies will be utilized in delivering state of the art teaching and learning to both HLC and NNNN University South CITY (IUSB) students.
The proposed HLC will address the high IUSB campus priority for partnering to achieve academic excellence. this recommendation is also embodied in the Strategic Directions Charter Initiative (SDCI) for innovative partnerships, #18, as well as the recommendation of the assessment of learning, #22. It will also address SDCI recommendations to foster excellence in teaching and
learning, #1, 2, and 3.
Workforce Education and Training
Brief Description: This proposal describes a multi-year initiative to increase education and training contract activity between YUZX and business, industry, government agencies, schools, and other external groups.
Abstract
This proposal describes the first year of a multi-year initiative to establish YUZX as the premier education and training consultant for Central NNNN. This proposal will increase education and training contract activity between YUZX and business, industry, government agencies, schools, and other external groups. This initiative builds on existing outreach efforts to local organizations and provides a vehicle through which Workforce Education and Training opportunities will connect the institution’s resources to employees and employers in the Central NNNN service region by:
• dramatically and systematically increasing contact with employers,
• increasing training and contract revenue by providing customized training that meets both the needs of the employer and the individual employee,
• coordinating outreach to the community by developing a customer/client prospect management system that reduces duplication of effort by outreach partners on campus and within the university as a whole, and,
• matching faculty and staff expertise to business, industry, government, education, and the non-profit sector by creating and maintaining a “trainer pool” database and sharing the resource with the community.
• This initiative supports the vision, mission, values, and aspirations of the YUZX campus and corresponds with the following Strategic Directions Charter in two key areas: Responsibilities of Excellence: 18. Strengthen existing partnerships and create new partnerships with public schools, businesses, government agencies and other external groups; and, The Community of Learning: 8. Increase access to the university through nontraditional programs and courses.
Strengthening University/Public School Partnerships
Brief Description:
This Excellence Proposal asks for two positions, an Educational Mentor and an Educational Psychology faculty, that will 1) strengthen the foundations component of our program; 2) facilitate the student teaching to first year teaching transition; and, 3) increase the number of teacher-as-resident opportunities. Working closely with Education colleagues, these positions will create a stronger connection between NNNN University East (IUE) and area public schools in integrating theory and practice, will provide for consistency in the application of standards and will ensure an efficient sharing of limited resources. The continuation and expansion of programs is dependent upon additional faculty resources. Adequate staffing of the Division of Education will take it from its current strong position to the position of excellence for which it has the potential.
Introduction and Statement of the Problem and Importance of Solving It
Over the past two decades, teacher education programs and public schools have learned much that can contribute to the quality of education provided to our young people. We know, for example, that to be effective, professional development programs must be on-going, that building on teacher strengths is more productive than focusing on deficiencies, and that teacher involvement in decision making leads to a greater commitment to implementation.
An area that continues to be of grave concern is the transition from preservice to first year teacher. New teachers start their professional year with tremendous enthusiasm and a desire to implement the innovative teaching strategies that are grounded in current research. All too often they quit teaching prematurely or join the ranks of disheartened veteran teachers. Transferring knowledge from the University classroom into the public school classroom is a difficult process. In order for transfer to be effective, preservice teachers need modeling of innovative teaching, a clear connection between theory and practice, shared expectations and consistency in supervision.
Two other factors affect the current state of affairs. First, is the reality of shrinking resources. Both public schools and universities are facing budget cuts. We need to do everything possible to coordinate efforts so that available resources are used wisely. Second is the need to respond to new standard initiatives that are guiding both content and process issues related to the preparation of new teachers and of public school students. These standards are being introduced from professional organizations and from State Departments of Education.
This Excellence Proposal asks for two positions, an Educational Mentor and an Educational Psychology faculty, that will support internal curriculum needs and provide for increased partnering. Working closely with Education colleagues, these positions will create a stronger connection between NNNN University East (IUE) and area public schools in integrating theory and practice, will provide for consistency in the application of standards and will ensure an efficient sharing of limited resources.
Preparing new teachers to provide quality education for all children is, simply put, the reason for the existence of our Division of Education. While the situation is complex, we are superbly positioned to develop a program that effectively bridges the University to public school teacher transition. We will do this by integrating current research and a performance-based preparation program with our already well-established conceptual framework. If we are to ensure a strong, well-prepared teaching force for the 21st century, then we must heighten our commitment to supporting new teachers during the critical first years of teaching. This can only happen if teacher education programs and public schools work cooperatively.