AWC Expands Opportunities in South Yuma County
June 29, 2017INSINCT2 Grant enables South Yuma County students to earn a BAS
Yuma, AZ (June 29, 2017)— On Thursday, June 29, ground was broken for the planned renovation and expansion of the Arizona Western College San Luis Informatics Campus. The expansion and renovation is the result of a Federal Title III STEM Grant awarded to AWC on October 1, 2016; “Informatics STeming Into New Careers for Today and Tomorrow” (INSTINCT2). The renovations will take place over the next several months at the San Luis Middle School.
This renovation/expansion will double the learning spaces currently at San Luis Middle School AWC campus. This will create two active learning classrooms, a Discovery Lab and an open student work area; the “Student Idea Incubator.” Each of these spaces will be equipped with state-of-the-art computer equipment in order to provide a newly created AAS degree in computer informatics.
The AAS Informatics degree from Arizona Western College transfers seamlessly to a Bachelors of Applied Science degree in Informatics from University of Arizona South. This degree pathway will incorporate updated curriculum with an emphasis in four innovative degree emphasizes that utilize the latest technology and are taught using hands-on, real-world experiences: (1) Systems Administration, (2) Software Development/Information Management, (3) Cyber Operations and (4) Digital Design.
The addition of these classes, along with the renovation of the other spaces will establish a path where all 4 years of a baccalaureate degree in Informatics is available in South Yuma County. Additionally, this degree pathway was purposefully designed to address local student needs while also meeting the needs of the local industry.
GRANT INFORMATION:
This project is in part supported under a Title III, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) grant from the U.S. Department of Education; Hispanic Serving Institutes Division. $861,655 toward this renovation will be derived from Federal grant dollars; which is 94.2% of the total project costs. Arizona Western College will contribute $53,000 which is 5.8% of the total project costs.
Contact:
Dawn Ponce
Director, HSI STEM Instinct2 Grant
Arizona Western College
(928) 317-7659
Dawn.Ponce@azwestern.edu