This project is designed to create student/faculty achievement opportunities at a consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HBCU/HSIs). Students/faculty will participate and contribute in onsite data collection, testing, and evaluation of emerging/innovative treatment technology research and demonstration projects. The project is managed and assessed by Environmental Management Federal Foundation, Inc ("EM Federal"). Initial HBCU/HSI consortium members include Hampton University, Howard University, Prairie View A&M University, the University of Puerto Rico, South Carolina State University, and Tennessee State University. EPA funds will be used to support student and faculty involvement in alternative or innovative treatment technology research, demonstration and testing activities at hazardous waste and/or Superfund sites.

EM Federal has a technology alliance and an approved/funded DoD Mentor Protégé agreement with the International Technology Corporation ("IT"). IT is a major federal contractor with multiple federal (including EPA) contracts and capabilities in the testing and demonstration of emerging/innovative environmental technologies. EM Federal is collaborating with IT’s Technology Applications Group to identify strategic project opportunities for student/faculty involvement in innovative technology projects. Consortium members currently performing work in the innovative technology arena may also seek funds via this project. Alternatively, on-going IT technology projects will be paired with institutions based on capabilities, interest, and geographic location.

The project goals and objectives are to: 1) Foster student involvement and achievement through on-site participation in emerging environmental technology project experiences at hazardous waste sites for academic credit and publications; and 2) Augment science and engineering curriculum, to integrate experiential learning opportunities, in a fashion that better educates the student population and cultivates the minority scientific and engineering workforce in the areas of environmental/geological engineering, geophysics, hydrogeology, toxicology and related fields.

These project experiences will be integrated into the academic component of the program of study. Integral to the proposed project is a model for multifaceted assessment of the impact on student learning that will guide curriculum reform. Specific activities shall be designed to: Enhancing the university based capabilities for course delivery using traditional and non-traditional methods such as distance learning, video conferencing and computer-base technologies concurrently with the enhancement of faculty expertise in these delivery approaches; fostering multidisciplinary research efforts in the areas of bio and phytoremediation, and enhancing the university’s total body of knowledge regarding technology transfer principles, practices, and applications.