National Science Foundation Grant Adds to $4.1 Million for PRIME Project

    PITTSBURGH, Aug. 19 The National Science Foundation
recently awarded the Partnership for the Regional Innovation in Manufacturing
Education Coalition (PRIME) a $846,030 grant to implement a comprehensive
approach to manufacturing education in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  With these
funds, PRIME has now received commitments from industry partners, PRIME
schools, and funding agencies totaling $4.1 million to continue the
coalition's efforts to increase manufacturing education.
    PRIME was launched in July 2000 and made possible through a unique
collaboration of two foundations -- the Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Education Foundation (SME-EF) and The Heinz Endowments.  It was designed to
focus on five Southwestern Pennsylvania colleges and universities in an eight-
county area to provide industry-driven education.  The coalition is funding
seven new manufacturing degree programs that would not have been possible
without this collaboration.  Robert Morris College is the lead institution
with PRIME and is joined by Penn State-New Kensington, the Community College
of Allegheny County, Butler County Community College, and Westmoreland County
Community College.  The grant will be announced at a reception on August 23rd
from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
    "The role played by area industry and the support of regional and national
funding agencies has been pivotal to the development of the PRIME coalition,"
said Winston Erevelles, director of PRIME and Associate Dean of the School of
Engineering, Mathematics, and Science at Robert Morris College.  "PRIME has
the potential to make a significant impact in higher education in western
Pennsylvania with its industry-driven curriculum and a system of programs
focused on the real world of manufacturing, engineering, science and
technology."
    Highlights of this project include:

    *  The implementation of an active learning model consisting of
Exploration, Dialog, and Application steps for engineering technology and
engineering students.
    *  The creation of a web-based conferencing system to network the five
campuses and industry partners in order to enhance the learning process and
facilitate collaborative learning.
    *  The closure of the competency gaps identified by regional employers in
new hires including technical and professional skills in manufacturing.
    *  The creation of 20 learning modules in five areas of study --
Engineering Materials, Manufacturing Processes, Quality and Metrology,
Computer Applications in Manufacturing, and Programmable Logic Controllers
with projects from industry partners.
    *  The implementation of materials common to both two- and four-year
institutions.
    *  The creation of a flexible, user-friendly, and supportive delivery
system.

    "The goal of PRIME is to fundamentally change the importance and direction
of manufacturing education within a 10-county region surrounding Pittsburgh,"
said Erevelles.  "We have a regional manufacturing base of over 166,000
employees in 3,500 manufacturing firms.  Developing the workforce for the
future is of vital importance to the region."
    Industry partners with the PRIME schools include Oberg Industries, Medrad,
Inc., Penn United Technology, Inc., Hamill Manufacturing, Cutler-Hammer,
Westinghouse Electro Mechanical, and Bauer Machining.
    In addition to the SME Education Foundation (SME-EF) and The Heinz
Endowments, PRIME also has been supported by the Alcoa Foundation, with a
financial commitment to all of the PRIME institutions.  This strategic
partnership among the five colleges and universities is a result of a year-
long process of national research, with deep involvement by regional leaders
and local industry.   Designed to focus on training U.S. talent, the
collaborative education model created for PRIME will be expanded to help
support and sustain strong regional manufacturing sectors of the country.

    CONTACT:  Mark D. Weinstein, Director of Public Relations of Robert Morris
College, +1-412-262-8650, weinstein@robert-morris.edu ; or Barbara J. Gaston
of Society of Manufacturing Engineers, +1-313-271-1500, ext. 1861,
gastbar@SME.org

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