CCV partnering with Burlington Generator to introduce students to maker and entrepreneur communities
Program will help students gain experience in STEM fields
Burlington, Vt. — The Community College of Vermont (CCV) is partnering with the Burlington Generator to introduce students to the maker and entrepreneurial communities in the Burlington area. The project is designed to help CCV students gain experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, which are increasingly valued by Vermont employers. This collaboration will be funded by an $18,150 gift from a local Vermont donor.
The first phase of the partnership will consist of two CCV faculty members spending time at the Generator, and developing proposals for classes they will teach there during fall 2016. Faculty will present their proposals at brown bag lunches at both CCV and the Generator, and eventually at the CCV faculty summer institute.
“Generator is thrilled to welcome the Community College of Vermont into an emerging intercollegiate consortium focused around innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Generator Executive Director Lars Hasselblad Torres. “In addition to serving CCV students, faculty and staff with access to great tools, talent, and learning opportunities, we are keen to learn how, as the nexus of a new kind of intercollegiate partnership, we can feed Burlington’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem together, inspiring and sustaining the next generation of makers.”
CCV will conduct a student survey before the end of the month to gauge interest in the program and raise awareness of student opportunities at the Generator. Between January and May, CCV students are encouraged to apply to become members of the Generator for five months.
“Companies that require employees with STEM backgrounds are becoming more and more central to Vermont’s economy, and this partnership will help contribute to our state’s workforce and economic future,” said CCV President Joyce Judy. “We’re excited to collaborate with the Burlington Generator to offer our faculty and students the opportunity to be exposed to cutting-edge technology and local entrepreneurs. This program will help many CCV students fully appreciate the wide range of possibilities for their future careers.”
The Generator will be hosting a mixer on Thursday, February 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for CCV students to visit the space and learn more about upcoming programs.
CCV has a long-standing commitment to STEM education, and recently added a STEM Studies certificate to its offerings for students.
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CCV is Vermont’s second largest college, serving over 7,000 students each semester. With 12 locations and extensive online learning options, our students don’t have to travel far from their communities to access our 18 degree and seven certificate programs, workforce, secondary and continuing education opportunities, and academic and veterans support services.
Generator aims to be a community of collaboration among artists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to foster a fertile environment for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. We exist at the intersection of art and technology and offer our community a full suite of tools, workspaces, and education opportunities. We serve and celebrate creators, collaborators and entrepreneurs.
