Goal of Increasing Science and Engineering Technology Graduates to Meet Growing Industry Demand

Saint Paul College, along with its educational and industry partners, has been awarded a prestigious, three-year $434,607 grant to educate larger numbers of skilled science and engineering students in response to growing industry demand.

Grant activities include the development of a job and internship center, expanding partnerships to provide more student internship opportunities, and curricular development such as an industry-relevant capstone course for all Science Technician Associate of Science (AS) students. The grant will grow the Science Technician program, originally focused on Chemistry, and allow the addition of both a Biology and Engineering track. This change will lead to a new program named Science and Engineering Technology.

Saint Paul College’s grant efforts will involve six academic and industry partners who will provide internships for up to 14 students per semester. In addition to increasing the number of students studying in the Science Technician program, current Saint Paul College students will benefit from new research opportunities, equipment and a clean room supported by grant monies.

Saint Paul College believes that its program will be one of the few two-year Science Technician programs in the country infusing state-of-the-art equipment (such as an Atomic Force Microscope), clean room facilities and research opportunities throughout its program offerings and curriculum.

Activities supported by the grant began last month and will continue through August 31, 2022.

Saint Paul College is a community and technical college that serves more than 15,000 students enrolled in continuing education, career and technical programs as well general education courses that lead to transfer to a four-year baccalaureate college or university. Saint Paul College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, a network of 33 colleges and universities serving 225,000 students annually.