MCC Awarded NSF ATE Grant

Madisonville Community College (MCC) has been awarded grant funding from the National Science Foundation s (NSF) Advanced Technical Education (ATE) program in the amount of $899,072 to provide technical assistance to West Kentucky Community and Technical College (Paducah, KY), Chattanooga State Community College (Chattanooga, TN), and Ivy Tech-Bloomington Community College (Bloomington, IN) to adapt and disseminate MCC s Advanced Integrated Technology (AIT) curriculum and delivery model. Utilizing prior NSF funding support, MCC developed a hybrid online, college credit curriculum to make technical education more accessible to employers and incumbent workers for skill upgrade training. Competency-based course modules allow students to target specific skills in four core areas Mechanical, Electrical, Fluid Power, and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). Customized modules target specific employer/employee training needs. Skills demonstrations are delivered in a flexible scheduled laboratory setting, enabling students to complete application exercises without sacrificing work time.

MCC is pleased to be able to work with the National Science Foundation again in supporting the best in technical training for advanced manufacturing. Through our work with the partner colleges in this grant, we will forge an even stronger alliance in support of the employers in our service areas. Alignment with employer needs is our primary focus and we are grateful to the National Science Foundation for their investment in our workforce, shared MCC Chief Academic Officer Dr. Deborah Cox.

The NSF/ATE funding will provide for personnel costs, including faculty and a career coach funded at various levels at each of the partner institutions. Funds will also be available for site visit travel expenses, development of online instructional materials, and costs associated with evaluation of the project. The 3-year grant begins September 1, 2016, and concludes August 31, 2019.