NIST Awards Funding to 8 Universities to Advance Standards Education

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has made eight awards totaling $1,156,973 to support standards education in undergraduate and graduate curricula. 

Since it began in 2012, NIST’s Standards Coordination Office Curricula Development Cooperative Agreement Program has received 255 applications and made 54 awards totaling over $4.3 million. The funding supports curricula development to integrate content on documentary standards and standardization processes into courses, modules, seminars and learning resources, including sustainable approaches that can be replicated and built upon by other educational programs.  

This year’s recipients are:

Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colorado) — $150,000
To develop and integrate three modules into the curriculum of a new major in ceramic engineering. The modules include a range of introductory standards for sophomores; standards in senior capstone projects; and standards for mechanical testing of ceramics for seniors. 

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, Florida) — $150,000
To develop six modules integrating industry standards into three courses in the engineering and aeronautics programs. Two introductory undergraduate courses will each include two modules on standards for environmental management systems and indoor air quality, and two additional modules will be integrated into a core course in the Master of Science Aeronautics program, specifically designed for remote learning and focused on current research problems in aviation and aerospace.

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, Missouri) — $150,000
To create a graduate certificate program in standards and safety in electrical and computer engineering, including development of content for two of four courses needed to successfully complete the program. One of the courses will focus on the standards development process, including forming working groups; drafting, revising and approving standards; standardization coordination; and maintenance of standards, as well as testing and compliance requirements. The other will introduce a wide variety of standards for electrical and computer engineering.  

Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) — $149,820
To create five modules to integrate standards and standardization content into the engineering technology curriculum. The modules will include instructional videos, hands-on practice lessons, and assessments for educating undergraduate and graduate students on standards and regulations for emerging technologies. They will be built using a badging platform that allows instructors and/or students to import badge information into their own open badge systems and display it on other platforms.

Texas A&M University - Kingsville (Kingsville, Texas) — $114,534
To develop and integrate 16 course modules for undergraduate and graduate students in three engineering programs. In addition, five webinars on standards and their application in mechanical, chemical and industrial management and technology will be created and included in the modules. 

Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Texas) — $149,021
To develop a module on emergency, disaster and crisis management (EDCM) standards for undergraduate and graduate engineering students. The module will be incorporated into a three-week core safety engineering course and a full-semester safety engineering elective course.

University of Illinois Chicago (Chicago, Illinois) — $149,070
To develop four modules on incorporating performance and testing standards in engineering design education and pilot the modules in undergraduate and graduate biomedical engineering courses. The modules will include searching and identifying appropriate standards; writing protocols for the incorporation of standards in verification testing; proposing revisions to standards; and developing new standards.

University of South Alabama (Mobile, Alabama) — $144,528
To develop and integrate five modules into the civil engineering program that will include one for each year from freshman through graduate levels. The awardee will work with local organizations including the Alabama Department of Transportation, the Alabama Asphalt Pavement Association, the county recycling center, and concrete and asphalt plants to engage students in discussions on how standards and specifications are incorporated into their operations.

To learn more about previous awards or to sign up for program updates, visit the NIST Standards Coordination Office website, standards.gov.