Enhancing the IT pipeline

Olympic College received a $474,357 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), awarded October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for September 30, 2028. The grant funds initiatives to enhance Computer Information Systems (CIS) education and increase graduation rates in the Bremerton, Washington region to address critical IT workforce shortages. Key deliverables include development and integration of experiential learning opportunities into the college's CIS Associate Degree programs, establishment of a multi-quarter work experience course engaging students in real-world projects addressing Olympic College's internal information system needs, and expansion of dual-credit CIS offerings through partnerships with local high schools.

The project will produce updated CIS curriculum, targeted outreach materials and recruitment initiatives to increase enrollment in associate degree programs, and partnerships with external organizations to adapt successful bachelor's-level programs to the associate degree level. These integrated program components are designed to improve the pipeline from secondary education to college enrollment while ensuring students gain practical work experience and skills aligned with regional workforce demands in advanced technology fields.

Abstract

As the world becomes increasingly digital there is a critical and growing need for IT professionals. IT skill shortages and training requirements are the key factors slowing down the digital transformation. The primary purpose of this proposal from olympic college (OC) is to increase graduation rates in computer information systems (CIS) to meet current and projected industry demand in the bremerton washington region. The goals of the project are twofold: (1) improving the pipeline from high school to college in CIS careers, and (2) providing work experience to students during their college education to increase their chances of finding post-graduation employment. The project will expand access to CIS education through new dual credit partnerships with local high schools, updated curriculum, and targeted outreach to increase enrollment in associate degree programs. Key elements of this project include: (1) integrating experiential learning opportunities into OC's CIS associate degree programs. The plan is to create a multi-quarter work experience course where students will engage in real-world projects on campus, addressing internal information system needs at OC; and (2) improving the recruitment pipeline by expanding dual-credit CIS courses in local high schools and improving outreach. Over the course of this project these initiatives will be developed, implemented, and integrated into OC?s curriculum. The project team will partner with external organizations adapting successful bachelor's-level programs to the associate degree level to ensure that workforce needs in the region are met. This project is funded by the advanced technological education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.