About Us, The Engineering Place (K-20 Outreach), College of Engineering, North Carolina State University

About Us

Mission:

To educate, both directly and indirectly, the citizens of North Carolina, particularly K–12 students, about the true nature of engineering and the opportunities and careers within engineering through hands-on, inquiry- and problem- based programs and informational workshops and tools.

Vision:

Every student, educator and parent in North Carolina will know the definition of engineering and the impact that engineering has on everyday life.

History

Our program was founded in 1999 and grew as an extension of the Women in Engineering Program with the desire to attract more women to engineering by reaching out to younger students. We recognized that any efforts to attract women to engineering would also be beneficial for underrepresented populations and all students.

We also acknowledged the need to inform the public about the true nature of engineering, to promote and support educational improvements in the way that math and science are taught in K-12 schools and to place importance on 21st century skills for all students.

Locations and Facilities

Our main facility is located on the North Campus of NC State University in Daniels Hall. We have multiple spaces that can be used for classroom-style activities and lab exploration, as well as resource rooms for equipment and materials.

Through the College’s distance education programs, we collaborate with Dr. Bill Fortney, the regional director for distance education programs. He is located at Craven Community College—Havelock Campus in Lenoir County and runs two middle school summer programs in addition to other K–12 Outreach activities throughout the year.

Funders, Partnerships and Collaborators

Boston Museum of Science
National Academy of Engineering
National Science Foundation
Wake County Public School System, N.C.
Brentwood Elementary School, Raleigh, N.C.
Rachel Freeman Elementary School, Wilmington, N.C.
IEEE – CASEE Engineering Equity Extension Service
National Assessment of Educational Progress

Awards

Educational Activities Board Informal Education Award from IEEE in 2009
Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in 2000 and 2009
Program featured on the NSF Discoveries website in 2005
Wake County Public School Partnership Award

Employment Opportunities

Outreach Ambassadors – We employ a small staff of undergraduate engineering students who support our outreach efforts throughout the community at events both on and off campus. These students receive training in working with K-12 students and lead activities for both large and small groups. Students work on average 10 to 20 hours per month throughout the fall and spring semesters.

RAMP-UP Fellows – Undergraduate and graduate fellows, working with a teacher team in K-12 partner schools in the Wake County School District throughout the academic year, plan and implement inquiry-based mathematics lessons that demonstrate the practical application of the math theory they are learning. More information about the program and an application is available at the RAMP-UP website.

Summer Programs Assistants – Each spring, the College hires undergraduate engineering students, as well as high school students, to support summer programs in June and July. Students work between one and three weeks with the program and serve as team leaders for week-long activities, night counselors and departmental assistants.