NSF WEST Project
“The WEST Team”
Tim Baber
Principle Investigator – Welding Education Smart Technology
David Thrasher
Co-Principle Investigator – Welding Education Smart Technology
Nadia Cotti
Dean, Applied Arts and Technologies
Mission
To advance the field of Welding Technology by integrating smart technology platforms, paired with industry-recognized stackable certificates, into current program curriculum and instructional delivery to educate welding technicians more effectively and efficiently.
Goals and Objectives
Goal: To modernize the model for higher education in a Welding program so that it is responsive
to the changing nature of education and the economy under which students are prepared
for jobs essential to American economic infrastructure, especially those related to
Industry 5.0.
Objective 1: To increase total student enrollment in Welding Education by 7% per year for a total
of 21 % as measured by student enrollment records.
Objective 2: To increase the student completion rate in Welding Education to 90% over the course
of the three years as measured by student completion records compared to the current
baseline of 84%.
Objective 3: To increase the number of industry-related credentials students will complete in the
Welding field of study by 5% per year for a total of 15% as measured by student completion.
records.
Objective 4: To decrease welding materials costs by 7% per year for a total of 21 % as measured
by program end-of-year budget documents.
Objective 5: To increase student exposure to welding by 10% per year for a total of 30% as measured
by attendance at welding roadshows, summer programs, and community demonstrations.
