The UH outreach plan will benefit from existing UH College of Engineering K-12 outreach activities to encourage students to pursue degrees in transportation-related engineering. In addition, the plan will involve undergraduate students in research to encourage them for graduate studies.
With the support of the State of Hawai‘i, the Department of Education, and contributing corporations, the College of Engineering has played an increasing role in K-12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outreach. As a result, it has increased recruitment to the College. The College’s programs include those dedicated to promoting women, Native Hawaiians, and other underrepresented populations in the engineering profession and at the College.
The aim of the College is to expose students who may not otherwise be aware of the impact of engineering in our society to the field. Through a variety of community outreach activities, we hope to inspire them and increase their interest in pursuing an engineering career when they attend college.
Existing on-going outreach activities that will enhance the Center’s educational objective include:
- 1. Summer Internship Program for High School Students
Program Description
The Summer Internship Program is a highly competitive six-week program that allows high school juniors (heading into their senior year) to take a hands-on approach to working in College of Engineering research laboratories. Along the way, interns also participate in group activities and a field trip to local engineering companies. At the end, they make a presentation about what they learned during the summer.
The UH Pavement Engineering Laboratory will host two high school students so that they gain experience in material’s research related to pavement preservation.
- 2. Engineering Day (September of every year)
Hosted by the College, this half-day event brings together 250 to 300 registered high school students, parents, teachers, and their counselors. The day consists of a brief overview of the College’s engineering program followed by a tour of its high-tech research laboratories and an informative question-and-answer session. There are also many opportunities to talk with faculty and current engineering students, including a meet-and-greet session at the end of the event.
In the past, the UH Pavement Engineering Laboratory has often been one of the labs open for the tours. As part of this outreach program, it is planned to open the lab for every Engineering Day and to put more emphasis during the lab presentations to pavement preservation activities.
- 3. Blueprints: Engineering your Manoa Success (August of every year)
A welcoming and orientation event for first time incoming freshmen, transfer students, and families. Students are able to design their own blueprint to success at UH Manoa while meeting the faculty, listening to industry leaders, learning about the opportunities offered, and making new friends.
Again, the Pavement Engineering Laboratory is typically one of the featured labs. It is planned to continue working with the college on this outreach activity.
- 4. Participation in school career days/fairs
The College’s STEM Marketing and Public Affairs Officer works with teachers and counselors at the schools to present information either in a group setting or at a school fair that involves other community partners. In either setting, students are engaged in activities and discussions related to information regarding engineering opportunities and the College. When possible, faculty and graduate students are invited to collaborate in these outreach efforts. Some past events include Kaimuki High School College Career Fair, Wilson Elementary Career Day, Stevenson Middle Career Day and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle/Halau Ku Mana.
- 5. University on-campus Junior Expo
A large group of 500 to 700 students come to the College and participate in a half-day event filled with engineering exhibits, games and competitions.
- 6. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP))
- Every year
Program Description:
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) provides undergraduate students at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with access to research opportunities. UROP offers research and presentation awards for student-initiated independent undergraduate research endeavors at UH Mānoa. UROP is also a resource for UH students to connect with researchers worldwide.
Research and travel awards are given for up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 each for groups; undergraduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Civil Engineering undergraduate students will be encourage to apply to perform research on pavement preservation.
- 7. College of Engineering – UH Manoa Student Project Grant Program (Proposals due on the third Friday of September of each year)
This is a new program started in 2013 that funds Student Projects that are mentored by faculty and funded by the College Banquet. Projects are expected to start at the beginning of the fall semester. In 2013, approximately $40K were allotted to the program. Awards are made in response to proposals from faculty sponsors in the College, with a maximum of $10K award, but only excellent proposals are awarded the maximum amount. The aim is to make approximately 6 to 8 awards. The program is in addition to the REU Program, also funded by the College Banquet. So, the Student Project Grant program will not award funds to projects that are better covered by the REU program. As is the case with the REU projects, awardees of the Student Project Grants in the fall semester will be expected to exhibit their projects at the College Banquet in the following spring semester. Presentation costs must be borne by the award.
Most importantly, each proposal must make the case that the student project advances activity in at least one of the College’s strategic themes: Sustainability; IT & Cyber Systems; Infrastructure in Support of the Environment.
The aim of the Student Project Grant Program is to initiate a set of high profile student projects that continue from year to year and help attract K-12 students to attend UH Mānoa College of Engineering. Repeated applications for awards can be made to continue an award without limit depending on the success of the project and availability of funds from the College Banquet.
Civil Engineering students will be encouraged to apply for pavement preservation related research projects.
- 8. Involving undergraduates in CHPP funded projects.
The intent is to involve at least two undergraduate students in CHPP funded projects to foster their interest in Transportation research in general and pavement preservation in particular.
- 9. Collaboration with other CHPP institutions.
UH intends to contribute towards the efforts by other center’s institutions such as the development of a short course for use by Middle and High school teachers in their classrooms or contributing material for the centers’ websites.