Education in
Emerging Technologies
at the
Foothill-De Anza
Community College District
Testimony to the Senate Select Committee on
Emerging Technologies and
Economic Competitiveness
July 15, 2005
Martha J. Kanter, Chancellor
About Foothill-De Anza
40,000+ students attend credit classes at Foothill and De Anza
colleges
The colleges prepare students to transfer to four-year colleges
and universities and enter the workforce; ready students for
college-level work; advance the growth global competitiveness
of Silicon Valley and California through education, training and
services that contribute to continuous workforce improvement
About half of the students are “traditional” college students; half
are re-entry, retraining or lifelong learning students
1 million students have been educated at Foothill and De Anza
since 1957
Mission
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District provides a dynamic
learning environment that fosters excellence, opportunity and innovation
in meeting the needs of our diverse students and community.
Collaborative for Higher Education
Foothill-De Anza
San Jose State
University
UC Santa Cruz
NASA Ames
Carnegie Mellon
Collaborative for Higher Education
Youth
FHDA
Articulation
SJSU
UCSC
Trained scientists
& engineers
STEM
Teachers
Adults
Workforce Development & Lifelong Learning
A Seamless Continuum of STEM Education & Training
Collaborative for Higher Education
Virtually all successful bio-info-nano programs in the nation
(such as in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Minnesota) are
integrated partnerships among community colleges, universities,
business and industry, and governmental agencies such as NASA
or NSF. The Collaborative for Higher Education builds on this
highly successful model.
Partnerships are vital. No
single entity can succeed
without collaboration and
establishing a pipeline for
students.
Collaborative for Higher Education:
The Pipeline
High School Math/Science Enrichment
Project—Currently partnering with three unified
districts:
Mountain View-Los Altos
Fremont
East Side
Many of the students are from traditionally
underrepresented groups.
Collaborative for Higher Education:
The Pipeline
High School Math/Science Project Components
Algebra II and Physics Enrichment
Introductory Engineering Courses; Engineering Applications
Summer Science Camps; Internships
Visits to Technology Complexes, Including
NASA Ames
The Exploratorium
San Jose Tech Museum
De Anza College’s Minolta Planetarium
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Summer Science Camps; Internships
Visits to Local Colleges and Universities
Foothill and De Anza colleges
UC Santa Cruz
San Jose State University
Pipeline to NSF Developing Effective Engineering Pathways (DEEP) Project
Collaborative for Higher Education:
The Pipeline
Ninety to 100 percent of the students participating in the
project go to college or are planning to do so.
Foothill-De Anza
Nanotechnology Program
Nano survey course (initiated spring 2005)
Existing related courses and programs
Physical sciences (chemistry, physics)
Engineering, mathematics, computers
Biotechnology, bioinformatics, informatics
Counseling, assessment, placement
NASA internships, program externships, Cooperative
Work Education
Multi-tiered Curriculum
Capstone Internship/Project-based Learning
Materials Electronics
Biotech
Computer
Science
Core Nanotechnology Courses
Foundation Subjects in Science & Technology:
Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering,
Mathematics & Physics
Core Courses
Survey course
Nano structures
Nano devices
Nano fabrication
Thin films/process
Surfaces/colloids
Materials analysis
Nanobiotechnology
Nanoelectronics
Internships
Certificate will be topic-mapped for articulation with CSU and UC.
Projected Degree & Certificate Options
Math
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Engineering
Continued
Studies
Engineering 
As Transfer Degree
IGETC Req.
Subjects
AS NanoTech
Learning Objects
NANO Cert
Sci Prep
Proficiencies
Development
Applications
Automotive
Aircraft
Consumer
Electronics
Energy
Materials
Medicine
Optics
Space
Entry Level
Job or Job
Transition
Program Outcomes
Concept by Robert Cormia
Funding
California Community Colleges have very limited
funding for curriculum development. Foothill-De Anza
is therefore actively pursuing NSF and other grants and
has already been awarded a VTEA grant.
How the State Can Help
Providing Incentives for
Accelerating CCC-CSU-UC articulation and curriculum
approval processes
For community colleges and universities, state mandates and
regulations frequently inhibit rapid response to emerging fields like
BIN
Sustainable higher education-industry partnerships in
emerging fields
Providing Funding for
Collaborative curriculum development among higher
education institutions
Internships for students
Specialized facilities
Thank You
Thank you to Chairwoman Alquist and members of the
Senate Select Committee on Emerging Technologies and
Economic Competitiveness.
Education in
Emerging Technologies
at the
Foothill-De Anza
Community College District
Testimony to the Senate Select Committee on
Emerging Technologies and
Economic Competitiveness
July 15, 2005
Martha J. Kanter, Chancellor