Skip to feedback

Award Abstract # 2202230
Geospatial Technical Education: Bridging Classroom to GIS Technician Careers

NSF Org: DUE
Division Of Undergraduate Education
Recipient: CENTRAL WYOMING COLLEGE
Initial Amendment Date: April 11, 2022
Latest Amendment Date: April 11, 2022
Award Number: 2202230
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Paul Tymann
ptymann@nsf.gov
 (703)292-2832
DUE
 Division Of Undergraduate Education
EDU
 Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date: June 15, 2022
End Date: September 30, 2025 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $349,804.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $349,804.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2022 = $349,804.00
History of Investigator:
  • Jaquelyn Klancher (Principal Investigator)
    jklanche@cwc.edu
  • Todd Guenther (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Central Wyoming College
2660 PECK AVE
RIVERTON
WY  US  82501-2273
(307)855-2048
Sponsor Congressional District: 00
Primary Place of Performance: Central Wyoming College
2660 Peck Ave
Riverton
WY  US  82501-2215
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
00
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): TXKNZEBHGGG3
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Advanced Tech Education Prog
Primary Program Source: 04002223DB NSF Education & Human Resource
Program Reference Code(s): 1032, 9150, 9178, SMET
Program Element Code(s): 741200
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.076

ABSTRACT

Geospatial Information Science (GIS) is a rapidly growing field of employment for which a significant workforce gap exists in Central Wyoming. There are not enough workforce-ready geospatial employees trained at the technician level to satisfy employment needs in the region. The goal of this project is to increase the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates of students in GIS at Central Wyoming College (CWC). The project will place specific emphasis on increasing the participation of students from groups underrepresented in GIS with a focus on American Indian students. An overall increase in the number of students participating in the GIS program, combined with innovative scheduling and course formatting will increase student completion rates and help CWC to graduate more workforce-ready GIS technicians. The resulting GIS program will include opportunities for field-based research, internships, and work experience that will enhance student learning and provide economic support to help with program retention and completion.

The project has three key objectives: the expansion of recruitment and retention efforts to increase the number of students graduating from GIS programs; the modification of existing GIS programs to create an innovative industry-appropriate curriculum; and the development of partnerships to better include hands-on GIS experiences for students. The project will leverage CWC?s American Indian Services Coordinator and CWC?s partnership with the Tribal Historic Preservation Offices of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes to increase recruitment, retention, diversity, and overall program completion. Long-standing professional, government and academic relationships will be engaged to create more paid internship opportunities, ensure program quality, and facilitate student transfer into the workforce and to 4-year institutions. Project evaluation will use mixed methods, primarily descriptive and qualitative, supplemented by interrupted-time series (ITS) models.

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.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.

Print this page

Back to Top of page