SUNY Canton Receives $20,000 Instruction Technology Grant

CANTON, NY (06/29/2015)(readMedia)-- A SUNY Canton project that will attract engineering technology students has been selected to receive $20,000 as part of the State University of New York's 2015 Innovative Instruction Technology Grants (IITG) Program.

The funding will be used to develop a general elective engineering technology course that will be open to current SUNY Canton students and local high school students. The curriculum will include an introduction to several areas of engineering technology, such as electrical, mechanical, civil and environmental.

Students will utilize a 3-D projector system and a gesture-controlled armband, called the Myo, which will also be purchased with the grant funding. The projector system allows students to view items in a three-dimensional space, and the Myo analyzes muscle movement by the users' arm to control technology such as computers, smartphones and robots.

"This project is designed to excite students about science, technology, engineering and math," said SUNY Canton Assistant Professor of Mechanical Technology Lucas Craig, Ph.D., who submitted the proposal and will help oversee its implementation. "They will have the opportunity to utilize innovative technology to solve problems and present concepts."

This is the first time SUNY Canton has received a grant through the IITG program, which was established in 2012.

"IITG is an opportunity for faculty to take their most innovative teaching and learning techniques to the next level, not only fostering their ideas on their home campus but teaming with colleagues across SUNY to implement them elsewhere within our system," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "We look forward to bringing these outstanding programs to even more of our students, faculty and staff as a result of this year's grants."

In total, more than $600,000 was awarded for 27 projects throughout the state. The entire list of funded projects is available online.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 460,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 college and university campuses, and online through Open SUNY. SUNY students and faculty across the state make significant contributions to research and discovery, resulting in nearly $1 billion of externally-sponsored activity each year. There are 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses, as well as ten exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 14 athletic teams compete as provisional members of the NCAA Division III and the USCAA.

-www.canton.edu-