FY 09 earmark entitled, `for recruitment and retention for an aerospace engineering academic program the united states is the world leader in science and technology. However, the number of students in…

FY 09 earmark entitled, `for recruitment and retention for an aerospace engineering academic program the united states is the world leader in science and technology. However, the number of students in the united states pursuing and graduating with a degree in science/engineering has declined significantly, and there is a need to develop and maintain an interest in the sciences in order to maintain that leadership. IT is critical that students, especially women and minorities who are underrepresented in these fields, pursue science education at the college level and graduate level and seek careers in the science and technology arena. There is a particular need in connecticut for students with this background. In connecticut, high technology companies form a large and growing sector of connecticut s economy, incorporating seven of the top ten fastest growing occupations in the state. However, there is a large and widening GAP between supply and demand of graduates who can fill high technology jobs in connecticut. In the state, there is a particular need for graduates proficient in the area of aerospace. The state department of labor estimates that the state produces half of the graduates needed to fill job openings for mechanical engineers. Central is the only university in connecticut that offers a degree in mechanical engineering with the opportunity to specialize in aerospace. Only in its third year, over 130 students are enrolled in the ccsu engineering program and interest continues to grow. To help meet these needs, IT is necessary to reach out to high school students to encourage their interest in the sciences, and provide mentoring and support as they graduate and go on to college. Ccsu, through its location - as well as close linkages with local industries and metropolitan hartford area schools - can provide this mentoring and outreach, and, specifically, can identify students interested in mechanical/aerospace engineering and enroll them into an engineering program after high school. Further, statistics show that over 85PERCENT of ccsu graduates remain in the state. Thus we are well positioned to help alleviate shortages in the mechanical engineering/aerospace specialty areas. Recruitment for engineering programs is a real challenge for most universities nationwide. Comparably, in china some 60PERCENT of all college graduates emerge from the sciences, math, engineering, and technology (stem), while in the US, barely 5PERCENT of degrees are earned each year in those disciplines. In fact, stem enrollment has dropped 12PERCENT in the past five (5) years! At the same time, some 10PERCENT of high school high achievers never go to college (this 10PERCENT is comprised largely of underprivileged/underrepresented groups). What is more disturbing; the retention rate for engineering students is one of the lowest (some 60PERCENT) among all college majors. In part this is due to a demanding and rigorous curriculum, but the fact that some engineering students realize quite late that the program is not the best fit for them also has a negative impact. `having programs available won't do much to address shortages unless those programs attract students. Marketing of these programs needs to be an integral part of the process. This marketing can be done in partnership with businesses and community-based organizations as well as high schools. New strategies will have to be developed to target groups that have not traditionally sought out higher education opportunities. Given the population and demographic trends in connecticut, that may be where the next available pool of workers will come from. Identifying the right students (possessed of appropriate potential) by reaching out to underrepresented, and very talented groups to ignite their interest in engineering, engage them very early in engineering activities, acquaint them with engineering principles, and provide a seamless admission process is the objective of this project.