Recipient Organization
TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
601 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
SAN MARCOS,TX 78666
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Women and Minorities in Welding (WAM WELD) is a two-part project that promotes STEM-based careers in the welding industry to secondary students. The major component of the WAM WELD project is the welding certification events with a college & career fair. The welding certification events will be open to all secondary students interested in earning a welding certification and/or exploring college and career opportunities in the welding field. Students will be able to select one of four welding levels that vary based on positions/process. They will be able to complete the weld at the welding certification event, upon completion of the weld, the student will have the weld evaluated by a certified welding inspector (CWI). The CWI will complete a visual examination and explain if the weld passed/failed following the American Welding Society (AWS) standards. If the weld passes the visual examination, the student will receive a certification for the welding process and position that they just completed. The second component of the WAM WELD project is the WAM WELD Ambassadors program for post-secondary students interested in welding related careers. Each semester, post-secondary students (n=6) will be selected to successfully plan, develop, implement, execute, and reflect on a welding certification event with a college & career fair for secondary students. The WAM WELD Ambassadors will recruit for the TXST Agricultural Mechanics program at Junior Agricultural Mechanics Shows, Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Events, and similar functions. The WAM WELD Ambassadors will receive educational assistance awards to serve in this role.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The objectives for the proposed Women and Minorities in Welding (WAM WELD) project are as follows: a) Increase women and minority's pursuit of a welding career; b) Increase recruitment and enhance programming for Texas State University (TXST) Agricultural Mechanics; and c) Evaluate and publish the WAM WELD as an educational model for adoption by other institutions. This project addresses AFRI's Agricultural Systems and Technology priority area while lending potential outcomes that have broader impacts on all AFRI farm bill priority areas by providing secondary female and minority students with career development opportunities. The objectives of this project also align with the USDA Strategic Goal #3: Promote American Products and Exports and Goal #4: Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development.
Project Methods
The Women and Minorities in Welding is a two-part project that promotes STEM-based careers in the welding industry to both female and minority students. The major component of the WAM WELD project is the welding certification event with a College & Career fair. The welding certification event will be open to all secondary students interested in earning a welding certification and/or exploring college and career opportunities in the welding field. This project will provide up to 450 registration scholarships for secondary women and minorities to participate in the welding event free of charge. All students will select one of four welding levels that vary based on positions/process and skill level. The welding position and processes will change at the two events per year allowing participants to potentially earn multiple welding certifications over time if they attend more than one event. They will then complete the weld at the welding certification event, and upon completion of the weld, the student will have their weld evaluated by a certified welding inspector (CWI). The CWI will complete a visual examination with the student and provide verbal feedback if the weld passed/failed following the American Welding Society (AWS) standards. If the weld passes the visual examination, the student will receive a certification for the welding process and position that they just completed. If the student failed to meet the AWS standards, the CWI will explain what the student needs to do to correct their welds to pass the examination at a future event. This proposal has the potential to directly impact 2,700 women and minorities interested in pursuing STEM-based careers in the welding industry. It takes approximately ten minutes to perform a weld test, with 25 welding booths, we should be able to run 450 students through a certification event in three hours. However, we will plan an all-day event for students not covered by scholarships to complete the certification exams and for everyone to participate in other activities during the event.During each of the six welding certification events, other activities will be offered free of charge to further engage the secondary students in welding-related activities. For example, students will have the opportunity to:Compete in an oxyacetylene cutting contest will be held throughout the eventtest their cutting skills in a speed and accuracy competitive event.Learn to underwater weld and compete in an underwater welding contest.Complete a welding exam/identification contest where they will answer basic welding questions on a written exam and identify 25 tools commonly used in welding on the identification portion of the contest.Participate in a virtual reality welding contest.We will also work with the industry representatives to establish scholarships and prizes for the secondary students who win each of the contests held at the certification event. The final component of the welding certification event is the College & Career fair. Texas State University (TXST) will work with community colleges and welding schools to set up recruitment booths for a college fair in our engines laboratory for secondary students to learn about the different educational pathways available in the welding industry. The PI and Co-PI will work with the community colleges and welding schools to create scholarship opportunities for the WAM WELD participants to pursue further education. We will also work with the welding industry to set up recruitment booths for a career fair in our structures laboratory. We will work with the industry representatives to facilitate on the spot interviews.The second component of the WAM WELD project is the WAM WELD Ambassadors program for female and minority TXST students interested in welding related careers. Each semester, female and minority post-secondary students (n=6) will be selected by the PI and Co-PI to plan, develop, implement, execute, and reflect on the welding certification event and College & Career fair for secondary students. The WAM WELD Ambassadors will also represent and recruit for the certification events and TXST Agricultural Mechanics program at Junior Agricultural Mechanics Shows, Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Events, and similar functions (e.g., FFA Convention, Bobcat Days). The WAM WELD Ambassadors will receive educational assistance awards for their service. This project has the potential to directly impact 36 undergraduate students serving as WAM WELD Ambassadors.