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OVERVIEW
The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC), constituted in 1990, is a Wisconsin-wide network of public and private universities and colleges, industry partners, government agencies, nonprofit associations, and other entities. The purpose of the Consortium is to coordinate and improve Wisconsin’s future in aerospace science, design, and technology. The focus of the Consortium is to stimulate aerospace research, education, and outreach activities throughout the State. WSGC encourages cooperative programs among universities, the aerospace industry, and government and encourages interdisciplinary, interuniversity, and university/industry training, research, and public service. It aids in the recruitment and training of professionals, especially women, under-represented minorities, and the developmentally challenged, for careers in aerospace science, design, and technology.
VISION
To provide opportunities for student and faculty engagement with the mission and activities of NASA to support vigorous development of the state’s aerospace workforce.
MISSION
The mission of NASA’s Space Grant Program is to contribute to the nation’s science enterprise by funding education, research, and informal education projects through a national network of university-based Space Grant consortia. The mission of the WSGC is to use the excitement and vision of space and aerospace science to equip the citizens of Wisconsin with the math, science, and technology tools they need to thrive in the 21st century.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
To achieve the mission of the WSGC, this plan identifies programmatic emphases that will guide strategic decision-making during the 2020-2024 period. These emphases are: • Expand opportunities for students and faculty researchers to benefit from the unique capabilities and assets of NASA through targeted programs that attract and retain STEM students and faculty through hands-on research and training. • Develop and expand internship opportunities for students to participate in authentic and meaningful research with academic and industrial partners within our affiliate network. • Recruit and train professionals, especially women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities, for careers in aerospace-related fields.
The programmatic emphases are embodied in the Consortium’s primary lines of business: • Fellowships and Scholarships • Internships • Student Satellite Programs • Research Infrastructure • Higher Education Incentives • Aerospace Outreach and Special Initiatives Programs
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, & STRATEGIES
NASA Education Outcome #1: Higher Education Engagement
Higher Education – Educate and Employ: Contribute to the development of STEM workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA’s strategic goals through a portfolio of investments.
- To efficiently administer a competitive and highly visible program of fellowship and scholarship opportunities for college and university students in STEM disciplines that align with both NASA’s mission and the missions of our affiliates.
- To increase the impact of the WSGC internship programs on career placements within the aerospace industry in Wisconsin.
- To expand opportunities for students to secure NASA Center internships.
- To provide highly visible and impactful team-based research and space technology experiences for undergraduates.
- To improve STEM education in institutions of higher education through the introduction of research-based pedagogies and learner-centric curricula.
- To efficiently administer a competitive and highly visible program of research awards to faculty engaged in promising research related to NASA’s mission and goals.
NASA Education Outcome #2: K-12 Engagement
Elementary and Secondary Education: – Educate and Engage: Attract and retain students in STEM disciplines through a progression of educational opportunities for students, teachers, and faculty.
- To facilitate the development of K-12 instructional materials, outreach activities, and informal education opportunities that promote the participation of a diverse population of students and faculty in STEM fields related to NASA’s mission and goals.
NASA Education Outcome #3: Outreach and informal education
Informal Education – Engage and Inspire: Build strategic linkages between STEM formal and informal education providers that promote STEM literacy and awareness of NASA’s mission.
- To incentivize the awareness and participation of underrepresented groups in NASA’s mission through community-based programming.
Consortium Management
To promote the WSGC to state stakeholders and ensure that the Consortium is managed in a way that is consistent with its mission and purpose and that maximizes the impact of WSGC programs for the benefit of affiliate members and their students.
