ATE Central is a freely available online portal and collection of materials and services that highlight the workof CARCAMand all other Advanced Technology Education (ATE) projects and centers. These National Science Foundation funded initiatives work with educators from two-year colleges to develop and implement ideas for improving the skills of technicians and the educators that teach them.
The National Science Foundation recently notified LBW Community College of an “Educating Technicians in Energy Efficiency” grant of $199,899 to better prepare future technicians.
The primary goal of the project is to meet emerging needs for increased energy efficiency by improving the quality of technician education in industrial electronics and diesel and heavy equipment mechanics.
Gov. Bentley Announces $200K to Expand Job-Training Programs at Calhoun CC
Calhoun Community College will expand two programs that prepare north Alabama students for in-demand careers with the help of grants totaling $200,000 announced by Gov. Robert Bentley.
The Appalachian Regional Commission grants will help upgrade programs to train students for careers in advanced manufacturing technology and as line workers for utility companies.
For the advanced manufacturing training program, the school will purchase new equipment to teach robotics and other skills needed by potential employers. The equipment will be set up to simulate a real-world manufacturing floor. The college also will aim to double the number of companies offering apprenticeships to students from five to 10. School officials expect 100 students to enroll in the expanded program. Matching funds of $149,974 will supplement the grant.
Trenholm State Awarded Appalachian Regional Commission Grant
Reducing the unemployment rate in Macon County is the goal of a $2.1 million project that will provide opportunities for residents to train for jobs in the automotive sector.
Sam Munnerlyn, President of Trenholm State Community College in Montgomery, said the college has worked with Macon County officials in the past, and Trenholm officials wanted to make a difference there. “We’ve been doing a lot of work in Macon County already with the Macon County School System and (Superintendent) Dr. (Jacqueline) Brooks, so we’re very familiar with it,” Munnerlyn said. “As an extension of this, we decided to get involved in writing a grant to try and help bring some jobs to Macon County.”
The college received a two-year grant through the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, according to Munnerlyn.
CARCAM and Gadsden State Community College hosted two events for National Manufacturing Day in October.
The event was held Oct. 6th on the Ayers Campus and was followed by the second event on Oct. 7th at the Bevill Center of the East Broad Campus.
Students from local high school career technical education programs traveled to tour the Alabama Robotics Technology Park’s mobile lab and Gadsden State’s state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing labs.
“The mobile lab is a hands-on instructional tool that is used by the Robotics Technology Park to create awareness and interest within communities about careers in robotics,” said Tim Green, Gadsden State’s Dean of technical programs.
“It’s also an avenue to pique curiosity among students about lucrative technical jobs available in industry today.”
Gadsden State students have the opportunity to learn in labs equipped with industry-standard equipment including a robotics lab, 3D printer and auto computer-aided drafting lab, manufacturing lab, instrumentation lab and a programmable logic controls lab.
“Students participating in Manufacturing Day will see that Gadsden State has the technology and equipment to develop them into skilled engineering technicians with career opportunities in several automated manufacturing occupations,” Green said.
“The Manufacturing Days on our campuses are a celebration of modern manufacturing,” Green said.
CARCAM responds to rapid advanced manufacturing sector growth by establishing and implementing innovative methods to develop a highly-skilled, diverse technical workforce and provide state-of-the-art professional development.
Who Are We?
The CARCAM consortium is one of 42 regional National Science Foundation ATE Center’s. We are educating today’s workforce in cutting–edge technology. Our curriculum is specifically designed and developed with input from business and industry and implemented in today’s highly advanced technical manufacturing industry.
Why CARCAM?
With the skills learned at CARCAM colleges, Students are ready for today's top manufacturing technology careers.
