Tech Prep CONNECT!
Tech Prep is a college-access program that enables high school junior and senior students to develop a college credit transcript; taking classes in areas that truly interest them, while at the same time offering “hands-on” experiences that ensure our students are Technologically Prepared before graduating from high school. As BGSU Firelands celebrates Tech Prep’s fifteen year anniversary, we are excited to begin a new segment of BGSU Firelands’ Tech Prep Program that will engage members of the business community and provide Tech Prep students with an opportunity to earn more than just college credits.
Beginning in the Fall of 2006, Tech Prep students in the Engineering Industrial Technology program, will begin to create and establish professional contacts in their field of interest. BGSU Firelands vision for the Tech Prep students includes the goal of beginning to complete academic requirements toward an Associates Degree. Thanks to recent FIPSE grant funding, the college also hopes to connect with real-world business opportunities involving learning outside the classroom about potential professional careers as well.
BGSU Firelands recognizes that it takes knowledge from the classroom, experience, and contacts to succeed and obtain a job in a chosen career. It’s never too early to begin networking and establishing professional contacts, while gaining work-based experience. BGSU Firelands Tech Prep Connect program will indeed help prepare Tech Prep students for the real world because they will have experienced it!
Once a business partner agrees to serve as a Tech Prep Connect participant, they open the door for Tech Prep students in the Engineering and Industrial Technology program who wish to gain more knowledge about careers in the areas that most interest them. Tech Prep Connect participants will have various options and methods of how they wish to serve as a professional contact for students. Business partners can elect to host students interested in job shadowing for a day or longer through an externship program. Tech Prep students could also gain insight into potential careers by simply touring your facility if you agree to be a site for student visitation. Tech Prep students could also learn more about the responsibilities of positions in your company by attending a Lunch With The Leaders event. For business partners that wish to get involved, but are very limited time-wise, communicating through frequent e-mails and acting as a professional e-mentor is another great option. Finally, Tech Prep Connect businesses could challenge our Engineering and Industrial Technology students by incorporating problem-based learning into their curriculum. Students will be able to apply what they’ve learned and help our business partner create or expand on a new idea or business practice, or assist with finding a solution to a problem or issue that needs to be addressed. This is an experience that is considered a real-life case study! All of the above experiences will set a Tech Prep students up for true success!
Business partners can expect our Tech Prep students to be highly motivated, dedicated, and eager to learn more about the Engineering and Industrial Technology field first hand- from you, our Tech Prep Connect professional! If you or would like to become a Tech Prep Connect business partner, please contact 419-433-5560, X20606.
We'd like to express our gratitude to the following
members of our initial group of Tech Prep Connect business partners: