AIM for Engineering requires the coordination and cooperation of several campus and community organizations. In addition to the Austin Independent School District’s Secondary Math department, key participants from UT’s College of Engineering include the Faculty Innovation Center, Design Technology and Engineering for America’s Children (DTEACh), K-14 Learning and Research Center, Women in Engineering Program, Equal Opportunity in Engineering, and the IT Group.

Participating organizations are described below.

The Faculty Innovation Center (FIC) supports instructional innovation within the College of Engineering by offering professional quality media development, instructional design, and evaluation services. The FIC is committed to assisting the College of Engineering to become a leader in transforming and improving engineering education.

The Women in Engineering Program (WEP) was established in 1992 to recruit and retain female engineering students, to increase the percentage of female engineering graduates, and to provide a supportive structure that encourages the success of women in the College of Engineering at UT. WEP conducts numerous outreach and undergraduate programs designed to ensure the academic and professional success of the over 1,000 undergraduate women enrolled in the College of Engineering.

The Equal Opportunity in Engineering (EOE) Program at The University of Texas at Austin was established in 1970 for the recruitment, retention, and academic development of minority students interested in pursuing careers in engineering. As a result of the EOE programs, the minority student enrollment for the College of Engineering has increased substantially over the past twenty years. UT Austin is regarded as a top ten producer of minority engineers in the nation (NACME, 2001).

The Design Technology and Engineering for America’s Children (DTEACh) project is a grassroots science-mathematics-technology teacher education project provided by three Mechanical Engineering professors at UT-Austin. In June 1995, the DTEACh team received the Fred Merryfield Design Award from the American Society for Engineering Education in recognition of excellence in promoting design education. Grounded in engineering design methodology, DTEACh institutes prepare teachers to facilitate experiential, project-based learning that supports deep understanding of math and science concepts.

The Information Technology Group (ITG) coordinates IT activities and initiatives throughout the College of Engineering. They strive to provide state-of-the-art IT resources and services to support the research activities, multi-disciplinary collaboration and educational experiences within the College.

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) is a large school district, which services a student population of 77,738 in urban Austin, Texas. AISD manages 106 campuses and has a staff of over 10,000 employees, including over 5,200 teachers. The AISD Secondary Math Department is responsible for supporting the advancement of all students in mathematics. Led by Norma Jost, a UT College of Engineering graduate, the Department designs, develops and conducts innovative and rigorous staff development programs for math teachers, which are tied to the AISD initiatives and state requirements.