Tennessee Wesleyan University

CARES ACT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL PORTION

CARES ACT EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID GRANTS TO STUDENTS04/

PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO IMPLEMENT THE ENHANCEMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCE AND STEM EDUCATION PROJECT BY COMPLETING RENOVATIONS AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADES INSIDE THE FISHER HALL OF SCIENCE. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES A VITAL INSTITUTIONAL NEED, AS THE 30,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY HAS NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY UPDATED SINCE ITS COMPLETION IN 1968. MODERNIZING THE BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE HELPS ESTABLISH A STRONGER ACADEMIC PIPELINE OF COLLEGE GRADUATES TO MEET THE RISING WORKFORCE DEMANDS OF REGIONAL HEALTH AND STEM INDUSTRIES.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE RECIPIENT WILL CONTRACT EXTERNAL ENTITIES AND DEPLOY INTERNAL FACILITIES STAFF TO PERFORM MINOR RENOVATIONS, WHICH INCLUDE INSTALLING TILE FLOORING, PAINTING WALLS, AND REPLACING LABORATORY COUNTERTOPS AND SINK FIXTURES. SPECIFIC STRUCTURAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CLEANING HVAC DUCTWORK AND REPLACING OUTDATED AIR HANDLERS, CONTROL VALVES, AND DDC THERMOSTATS TO ENSURE REGULATORY TEMPERATURE COMPLIANCE. THE UNIVERSITY WILL PURCHASE AND DEPLOY WIRED NETWORK CABLING, PRESENTATION SMARTBOARDS, A LARGE-CAPACITY AUTOCLAVE, A PREPARATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHY PLATFORM, A SONICATOR, AND AN ULTRAPURE WATER PURIFIER. ADDITIONALLY, PROJECT LEADERS WILL COORDINATE VENDOR-LED FACULTY TRAINING SESSIONS AND ESTABLISH AUTOMATED TRACKING FRAMEWORKS TO MONITOR METRICS FROM DECLARATION TO GRADUATE PLACEMENT. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE PROJECT WILL DELIVER A MODERNIZED INSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH FACILITY EQUIPPED WITH STABLE CLIMATE CONTROLS AND UPDATED EMERGENCY FIRE PANELS. EXPECTED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES INCLUDE EXPANDED STUDENT ENROLLMENT ACROSS BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS, ALONGSIDE INCREASED STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN FACULTY-LED RESEARCH. THE UPGRADES WILL RESULT IN A FULLY RE-WIRED TECH NETWORK, OPTIMIZED SOFTWARE LEARNING TABLES, AND STANDARDIZED LABORATORY TRAINING MANUALS TO ENSURE SAFE INSTRUMENTATION OPERATION. ULTIMATELY, THESE ENHANCEMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO DECREASE GRADUATION TIMEFRAMES AND IMPROVE GRADUATE JOB PLACEMENT RATES WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF DEGREE COMPLETION.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES ARE THE APPROXIMATELY 800 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY?INCLUDING LARGE SUBSETS OF FIRST-GENERATION AND LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS WHO UTILIZE THE LABS TO COMPLETE MANDATORY GENERAL EDUCATION SCIENCE CREDITS. STUDENT MAJORS IN NURSING, DENTAL HYGIENE, ENGINEERING, AND PRE-PROFESSIONAL HEALTH TRACKS WILL BENEFIT FROM DIRECT, HANDS-ON EXPOSURE TO INDUSTRY-STANDARD TOOL ASSEMBLIES. FURTHERMORE, REGIONAL EMPLOYERS, CLINICAL HOSPITALS, AND NATIONAL LABORATORIES WILL BENEFIT FROM A PREDICTABLE LOCAL SUPPLY OF HIGHLY SKILLED TECHNICAL WORKERS.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.

INCREASING RETENTION OF FIRST-YEAR FRESHMEN BY IMPROVING ADVISING AND STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

UNKNOWN TITLE

HEERF STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM

ENHANCING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY STUDENTS COMPETENCIES AND CONFIDENCE AS A RELATED SERVICE PROVIDER IN EARLY INTERVENTION AND SCHOOL BASED SETTINGS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TENNESSEE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY'S AMERICORPS*VISTA PROJECT?S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN TENNESSEE IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION AND FOOD INSECURITY. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECTS ALIGN WITH THE EDUCATION: K-12 SUCCESS FOCUS AREAS, AND HEALTHY FUTURES: FOOD RESOURCES. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECTS SEEK TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES AND IMPROVE K-12 EDUCATION SUCCESS RATES IN ATHENS CITY AND MCMINN COUNTY THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE ATHENS-FAMILY YMCA, CASA CORRIDOR OF EAST TENNESSEE, CASA CORRIDOR OF MONROE COUNTY, AND WILL ALSO IMPROVE K-12 EDUCATION SUCCESS RATES IN MEIGS, MONROE, AND RHEA COUNTIES BOTH CASA LOCATIONS. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR PROJECT (LTNP), HOUSED AT TENNESSEE WESLEYAN, IS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING THE BARRIER OF FOOD INSECURITY FOR INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE ATHENS/MCMINN COUNTY AREA, ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS IN K-12 AND COLLEGE. THE OVERALL PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO PROVIDE A BENEFITS MORE THAN 1,000 UNDUPLICATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR. THREE (3) AMERICORPS*VISTA MEMBERS WILL BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH LTNP. ADDITIONALLY, TWU IS THE INTERMEDIARY SPONSOR FOR FIVE (5) AMERICORPS*VISTA MEMBERS. TWO AT THE ATHENS-MCMINN FAMILY YMCA, AND THREE VISTAS WILL BE AT TWO COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA. THERE WILL BE ONE (1) VISTA LEADER, HOUSED AT TENNESSEE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE REPORTING TOOLS, ASSIST WITH COMMUNICATION ACROSS SITES, AND DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISTAS. TOGETHER, THE VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECTS BY EXPANDING ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY, ESTABLISHING NEW AND GROWING EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS, AND ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND K-12 AND COLLEGE STUDENT SUCCESS, OVER THE COURSE OF THREE-YEAR OVERALL PROJECT TO COMPLETE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY PLANS.

RESEARCH, REVIVE, RECRUIT: REIMAGINING RECRUITMENT AND PROGRAM PATHWAYS FOR RURAL STEM EDUCATORS AT TENNESSEE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY -THE PROJECT AIMS TO SERVE THE NATIONAL NEED TO PREPARE HIGH-QUALITY STEM EDUCATORS AND TO FILL A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF STEM TEACHERS IN RURAL AREAS OF EASTERN TENNESSEE. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TENNESSEE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY (TWU) GRADUATES WHO ARE PREPARED TO TEACH STEM DISCIPLINES IN HIGH-NEED LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES (LEAS). TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE PROJECT AIMS TO: IDENTIFY BARRIERS LIMITING ENROLLMENT IN STEM TEACHER PROGRAMS; STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH CLEVELAND STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (CSCC) AND REGIONAL LEAS; AND BOOST AWARENESS AND INTEREST IN STEM AND STEM TEACHING AMONG STUDENTS AT TWU AND PARTNERING SCHOOLS. THE PROJECT PLANS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES NECESSARY TO SUCCEED IN STEM FIELDS AND CONTRIBUTE TO TENNESSEE?S LONG-TERM ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. A SET OF TOOLS AND PROCEDURES SUCH AS ENGAGING RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS, ALIGNING CURRICULUM ACROSS STEM AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS, AND WELCOMING TRANSFER AGREEMENTS WITH CSCC ARE PROPOSED TO ATTRACT STUDENTS INTO TWU?S STEM TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE THE GROUNDWORK FOR A NOYCE TRACK 1 PROPOSAL. THIS PROJECT IS HOUSED AT TENNESSEE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY AND WILL LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CLEVELAND STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND REGIONAL HIGH-NEED LEAS IN RURAL AREA OF EAST TENNESSEE. THE UNDERLYING GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BUILD CAPACITY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TWU GRADUATES WHO ARE CERTIFIED AND HIGHLY PREPARED TO TEACH SECONDARY EDUCATION IN STEM DISCIPLINES, PARTICULARLY IN BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND MATHEMATICS, TO SERVE STUDENTS IN HIGH-NEED LEAS. THE PROJECT HAS FOUR ACCOMPANYING GOALS: 1) IDENTIFY BARRIERS AND INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FOR STEM MAJORS WHO WISH TO PURSUE CAREERS IN TEACHING. 2) DEVELOP A STEM EDUCATION TRANSFER PATHWAY WITH CSCC. 3) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE STEM AWARENESS AS A RECRUITING MECHANISM AMONG STUDENTS IN PARTNER LEAS. 4) EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS, OUTCOMES, AND IMPACT OF THE CAPACITY BUILDING IMPETUS OF THE PROJECT. THESE EFFORTS ARE GROUNDED IN THE RECOGNITION THAT STEM EDUCATION IS VITAL FOR PREPARING STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN A TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN SOCIETY AND TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE MODERN WORKFORCE. THE QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT EVALUATION WILL PROVIDE FORMATIVE AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK AND GENERATE NEW KNOWLEDGE WITH RESPECT TO BARRIERS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR RECRUITING AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES CERTIFIED AND PREPARED TO TEACH SECONDARY STEM EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE RURAL ARENA. ANALYSIS OF THE COLLECTED DATA AND OUTCOMES WILL BE PRESENTED AT NATIONAL AND LOCAL CONFERENCES AND SHARED THROUGH THE TWU WEBSITE. THIS CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (NOYCE). THE NOYCE PROGRAM SUPPORTS TALENTED STEM UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS AND PROFESSIONALS TO BECOME EFFECTIVE K-12 STEM TEACHERS AND EXPERIENCED, EXEMPLARY K-12 TEACHERS TO BECOME STEM MASTER TEACHERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT ALSO SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND RETENTION OF K-12 STEM TEACHERS IN HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 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 NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RBDG RURAL BUSINESS COOP RURAL ENTERPRISE GRANT

RURAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE GRANTS

TENNESSEE WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY'S AMERICORPS*VISTA PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT RURAL COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN TENNESSEE IN THE AREAS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND EDUCATION IN YOUTH. THE LOVE THY NEIGHBOR PROJECT (LTNP), HOUSED AT TENNESSEE WESLEYAN, IS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING THE BARRIER OF FOOD INSECURITY FOR INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE ATHENS/MCMINN COUNTY AREA. THREE (3) AMERICORPS*VISTA MEMBERS WILL BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH LTNP. ADDITIONALLY, TWU IS THE INTERMEDIARY SPONSOR FOR FOUR (4) AMERICORPS*VISTA MEMBERS. TWO AT THE ATHENS-MCMINN FAMILY YMCA, AND TWO VISTAS WILL BE AT TWO COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA. TOGETHER, THE VISTA MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECTS BY EXPANDING ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY, ESTABLISHING NEW AND GROWING EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS, AND ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND K-12 SUCCESS. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECTS ALIGN WITH THE HEALTHY FUTURES: FOOD RESOURCES AND EDUCATION: K-12 SUCCESS FOCUS AREAS. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECTS SEEK TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES AND IMPROVE K-12 EDUCATION SUCCESS RATES IN ATHENS CITY AND MCMINN COUNTY THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE ATHENS-FAMILY YMCA, CASA CORRIDOR OF EAST TENNESSEE, CASA CORRIDOR OF MONROE COUNTY, AND WILL ALSO IMPROVE K-12 EDUCATION SUCCESS RATES IN MEIGS, MONROE, AND RHEA COUNTIES BOTH CASA LOCATIONS. THE OVERALL PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO PROVIDE A BENEFIT S MORE THAN 1,000 UNDUPLICATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR.