Today is the date to submit your NSF grant proposal.  Good luck to everyone doing that.  Today at MATEC, Michael Lesiecki and Lara Smith hit the send button to submit our grant proposal for the regional center – The Energy Utilization Center (EUC).  Below is the introduction summary:

The Maricopa Community Colleges propose to establish a regional center called the Energy Utilization Center (EUC). The EUC seeks funds to reform and strengthen academic programs in order to produce a greater number of highly qualified workers who meet regional workforce demands and national industry and academic skill standards. The need for the support and sustainability of technology-based programs in the area of energy utilization defines the rationale for the proposed regional center. Efficient utilization of electric energy remains an underdeveloped agenda in the U.S., as highlighted in recent policy and funding initiatives by the new government administration. Colleges in our region propose to lead the U.S. by taking an aggressive and holistic approach to developing and channeling programs and resources on energy utilization. The proposal will integrate approaches to the utilization of our region’s energy sources with a focus on how they ultimately lead to electricity distribution and use.  
 

Designed to serve the needs of the Arizona and New Mexico region of the Desert Southwest, the goals of the EUC are as follows:
Goal 1:  Advance technician and technological education in energy utilization by establishing a regional consortium of educators, industry, and government entities that focuses on new approaches for optimizing the use of electric energy.
Goal 2:  Better define and address the needs of the regional workforce for skilled energy production, distribution, and utilization technicians, by engaging the education and industry communities.
Goal 3:  Strengthen course and program offerings to ensure that curriculum addresses the needs of industry by identifying existing/creating new curriculum and professional development opportunities for faculty and technicians in this area.
Goal 4:  Increase enrollments in energy utilization and related programs by increasing awareness of and engaging interest in energy related opportunities by both current and potential students, as well as working adults.
 

Congratulations to Mike and Lara, as well as the whole MATEC team that worked on the proposal! Especially good job for a record of turning it in 7 hours before it was due! Good luck to everyone who has submitted a grant proposal and those who are still working on theirs.

Mark Viquesney