2000 Texas Summer Transportation Institute

Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), as part of the Texas A&M University System, served as the lead agency for the 2000 Texas Summer Transportation Institute (TSTI), whose partners were Texas Southern University and Paul Quinn College. This organization of the TSTI was beneficial because it provided the opportunity to expose middle and secondary students to a diverse group of transportation educators and professionals working in various modes of transport; it maximized expertise and available resources to adequately meet the goals of TSTI; and it eliminated a duplication of effort. Staff from TTI assumed the role of Institute Director and Program Coordinator. The 2000 TSTI emphasized both the quality and quantity of students selecting transportation careers. The TSTI was designed to create an educational and training delivery system that: (1) attracted middle and secondary school students to and enhance their interests in careers in transportation; (2) improved mathematics, science, and technology skills; and (3) through creative partnerships, strengthened the links between the transportation sector and public/private institutions. The TSTI specifically focused on creating high interest among middle and secondary school students and creating opportunities and activities that enhanced awareness and knowledge about transportation careers. An intermodal advisory board consisting of representatives from the public and private transportation sectors was formed to assist with the development of the TSTI program. A total of 44 high school students attended the two 2- week non-residential Institutes held from June5-16 on the Texas Southern University campus in Houston, Texas, and from June 12-23 on the Paul Quinn College campus in Dallas, Texas. The two-week institutes addressed the three modes of transportation (air, land, and water) and provided the students with educational field trips to transportation facilities in Houston and Dallas, on-site seminars, lectures by transportation industry from around the country. Based on feedback from the students, the programs were appropriate in length and activities were fun and educational. It is recommended that the TSTI program continues in subsequent years with financial support from the FHWA being increased to help offset the significant cost sharing incurred.