Pre-College Initiative
The pre-college initiative of the Logistics Engineering Technology project targets high school students, educators, and counselors. A key component of this initiative was the coordination and implementation of a STEM Summer Camp for high school students designed to inspire a future in STEM-related careers. Future efforts will focus on expanding summer camp initiatives and providing educational briefing sessions for high school parents, advisors, and guidance counselors. The pre-college initiative serves as an important method for driving program awareness and recruiting prospective high school students.
Student Survey
A goal of Logistics Engineering Technician (LET) project is to develop a career pathway. A key component of effectively implementing this career pathway involves recruiting participants to LET degree through pre-college initiatives. To understand the factors impacting on students’ decisions to choose a particular major as well as to gather baseline data of self-efficacy, a survey was disseminated to students enrolled in logistics courses in Fall 2015 semester. The survey asks questions regarding student intention to pursue LET, why they are interested in the particular pathway, and overall self-efficacy regarding completing LET related courses. A full-report of the survey results, prepared by The Ruck’s Group, can be found in the following document: Logistics Engineering Technician Student Survey Results.
LET Early College Experience
A key component of the pre-college initiative is the coordination and implementation of a STEM Summer Camp for high school students designed to inspire a future in STEM-related careers.
LET Early College Experience
In 2016 the LET project team piloted an Early College Experience focusing specifically on Logistics Engineering Technology. The two-day summer camp featured hands-on laboratories, college readiness activities, and a tour of Boar’s Head Brand’s automated distribution center. The summer camp was attended by 22 high school students from more than 10 central Ohio high schools. Focusing the camp specifically on LET allowed the project team to design activities and laboratories that more directly relate to the careers and subject matter of LET. Over the course of the two day camp, students reported an increase in the positive attitudes related to LET technician as a career option. The LET project team again used a counterfactual questionnaire, but spread the timing of the questionnaires throughout out the two-day experience.
In 2017, the LET project team built upon the initial success of the LET Early College Experience and expanded the program to three-days. The additional day allowed for the inclusion of a second facility tour, an interactive 3D printing lab, and a session on Smart Columbus and Hyperloop One. One day three the project team also created a parent track that provided an overview of career and educational options on logistics.
Additional information about the LET Early College Experience summer programs can be found below:
2016 & 2017 LET ECE Key Outcomes
High School Outreach
The LET high school outreach program is designed to inspire students to pursue a career in logistics engineering technology; leading to positions as logistics engineering technicians, operations managers, logisticians, supply chain managers, systems analysts, and industrial engineering technicians. Key components of the LET project’s high school outreach include:
College Credit Plus
Columbus State actively partners with area high schools to promote logistics and supply chain management at the high school level. Through the College Credit Plus program, or dual credit initiative, high school students can earn college credit by enrolling in Columbus State courses through their high school. The LET program helped to facilitate CCP at various high schools including Eastland Fairfield, Metro Institute of Technology Early College High School, Westerville City Schools, Hi-Point Career Academy at Marysville Early College High School, and Delaware City Schools to teach college-level course at the high school level.
Outreach Presentations
In its first year, the LET program is relying on recruiting strategies to build knowledge of the program. In-class presentations at local high schools, booths at local conferences and involvement fairs, and meetings with educators. Information Session PPT.
LET faculty/staff are active in both high school and local community based organizations that engage both middle school and high school age groups. The LET team also participates in Columbus State's We Are STEM event each year. Our team can also customize an presentation or hands-on activity for your classroom or students. To request an outreach presentation please contact Stephanie Page, Program Coordiantor.
Recommended High School Coursework
Columbus State is an open enrollment college. The Logistics Engineering Technology degree is a rigorous program that requires strong foundation and competencies in math. The LET project team has also developed a list of recommended coursework to help ensure that high school students are successful in the A.A.S. LET degree at Columbus State. LET Recommended HS Coursework
Educator & Counselor Outreach
STEM Educator Summer Institute
In 2017, LET partnered with Cybersecurity (DUE 1501194) to create a STEM Educator Institute focusing on careers in Logistics and Cybesecurity. Ten local high school educators and counselors came for a three-day event with industry tours, guest speakers, and team building activities.
2017 Educator Bus Tour
On October 31, 2017, local high school educators, counselors, and administrators took a bus tour of Cardinal Health, City of Dublin Fleet Management, and Honda Manufacturing. The goal of the tour was to engage these student influencers in local industry practices and growing trends. Below you will find the survey results from the event and a planning guide that has been created to help replicate future events.
Connecting Your Students to High-Demand Careers | Counselor Breakfast
On February 10, 2017 Columbus State hosted 40 counselors and educators for a breakfast presentation about Connecting Your Students in High-Demand Careers. The attendees learned about Logistics Engineering Technology, Cybersecurity, and the Modern Manufacturing Work Study, which are all programs at Columbus State Community College. At the end of the event, attendees reported an attitudinal shift towards key aspects related to the willingness by counselors to recruit students to pursue the areas of studies that were the focus of the breakfast. A full-report of the survey results, can be found in the following document: High-Demand Careers Survey Results.