2024 Engineering PLUS Alliance Western Regional Hub Kick-Off
#2024EngPLUSWRH
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WELCOME LETTER:
Dear Participants,
We are excited to share a collaboration opportunity with you. We have recently been selected to lead the Western Regional Hub as part of the NSF Engineering PLUS Alliance. Our shared vision is to achieve systemic, transformative, and sustainable change that will increase the growth rate in the number of undergraduate and graduate engineering degrees awarded to women and members of the BIPOC community. This sub-award from Northeastern University serves to launch a western states regional hub with UC Santa Cruz in the role of coordinator.
As part of our commitment to fostering connection, community, and collaboration, we are seeking like-minded institutions, organizations, and national labs in our region who would be committed to becoming a partner in the regional hub. We are also extending invitations to MSIs beyond the western states to strengthen our collective impact.
As our debut, the NSF Engineering PLUS Western Regional Hub will be hosting a kick-off meeting Oct 31 – Nov 1 in Phoenix, AZ. We invite you to join us in this opportunity to build community with fellow members and to shape the focus of our efforts over the next year. This year, the convening will coincide spatially and temporally with the SACNAS NDiSTEM conference. Unfortunately, this year SHPE and SACNAS will be overlapping so I understand there might be conflicts. We will make every effort to create and make materials available for those who cannot attend. I will host a post-meeting Zoom session to share materials and summarize outcomes. Our immediate goal is to develop working groups to meet bi-weekly throughout the academic year (working stipends to be provided).
If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Sept 15 here. Note that participation in the Western Regional Hub kick-off DOES NOT require registration or attendance at SACNAS.
If you have additional questions about the work we are doing and the mission of the hub I would be delighted to connect over zoom to share more and answer any questions. If you are ready to join, you can do so by completing an Agreement of Collaboration (AoC) and signing up for the NSF Engineering Alliance directory here.
We hope to see you in the fall!
Best,
Marcella Gomez
P.S. The Western Regional Hub will be sponsoring a reception as part of the SACNAS annual conference on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 31st, 6:30-8:30 pm. If you are attending SACNAS consider joining us!
Agenda at a Glance (subject to minor changes)
Day 1: Thursday, October 31st, 2024 |
Time |
Session Topic |
10:30 – 10:45 AM
(15 minutes) |
Opening Remarks, Thank Yous, Updates |
10:45 – 11:15 AM
(30 minutes) |
Guest Speaker on the Mission of Engineering PLUS Alliance: Richard Harris, Associate Dean, Diversity & Inclusion, Northeastern University and Regional Hubs Leader of NSF Engineering PLUS Alliance. He will share more about the motivation behind the launch of this NSF INCLUDES Alliance and the mission and importance of the alliance. |
11:15 – 11:30 AM
(15 minutes) |
Establish Community Norms/Working Agreements
To facilitate effective collaboration we will begin by reviewing a set of community norms with an opportunity to discuss, add and/or edit guidelines for discussion. |
11:30 – 12:00 PM
(15 minutes) |
Round Robin Introductions (1 Min, 1 Slide each)
|
12:00 – 12:30 PM
(60 minutes) |
Preview Working Groups and Exit Ticket Assignment
This exercise will serve to introduce the topics of the working groups and share our knowledge of known successful initiatives with respect to the goals of the working groups and challenges/barriers your campus continues to experience. |
1:00 – 1:30 PM
(30 minutes) |
Lunch |
Day 2: Friday, November 1st, 2024 |
Time |
Session Topic |
10:30 – 10:45 AM
(15 minutes) |
Opening Remarks |
10:45 – 11:25 AM
(40 minutes) |
Working Group Structured Break-Out Activities
Working groups and their focus will be established based on pre-survey responses and discussions from Day 1. Working groups are to establish a plan (1-3 tangible goals for the year) |
11:25 – 11:45 AM
(20 minutes) |
Working Groups Report Out |
11:45 – 12:20 PM
(35 minutes) |
Special Topics Discussion
As a group, we will engage in discussions around two special topics
|
12:20 – 12:30 PM
(10 minutes) |
Closing Remarks |
12:30 – 1:30 PM
(60 minutes) |
Lunch |