ATE Central is excited to announce the release of the third series of ATE Student Success Stories. These inspiring videos showcase the challenges and achievements of students from diverse backgrounds who have transformed their lives through technician training programs supported by ATE centers and projects.

Featured Stories:

• Elias's Story: (Miami, FL): Initially considering medicine, Elias shifted gears after discovering the cybersecurity program at Miami Dade College. With six certifications under his belt, he's now thriving in a new role at Amazon.
• Sam's Story: (Riverton, WY): Sam found his calling in geospatial information systems and technologies (GIST) at Central Wyoming College. His passion for the outdoors has led him to help bridge climate data gaps.
• Zachary's Story: (Fort Pierce, FL): After serving in the military, Zachary’s curiosity for engineering brought him to Indian River State College's LASER-TEC program, where he’s now confident in his ability to thrive in the photonics and laser industry.

Watch their journeys on ATE Central and see how ATE programs are empowering students to change their careers. 

The 2024 ATE PI Conference is just around the corner! Join us from October 23-25 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. for three days of discussions and networking.

This event will gather 850+ NSF ATE grantees and partners to tackle the critical issues shaping advanced technological education. You’ll hear from leaders in the field, representing community colleges, industry, secondary schools, and universities nationwide. Don't miss this opportunity to explore cutting-edge projects in areas like advanced manufacturing, IT, nanotechnology, and more.

Register now on the ATE PI Conference website! 

On September 11, 2024, at 12:00 PM CDT, the Safety Innovation Series, created by the Alliance for Automative Innovation, will host a webinar focused on the latest advancements in driver safety technology. Titled "Helping Drivers Stay Attentive, Focused, and Safe," this event will delve into the innovative solutions automakers and suppliers are developing to ensure drivers remain alert and focused while on the road. Attendees will gain insights into both current and emerging technologies designed to enhance driver safety.

To register and for more information, check out the Zoom registration website. 

Join fellow community college educators and leaders as a presenter at the 2025 Innovations Conference in San Antonio, Texas, from March 9-12. This premier event, hosted at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk, offers an opportunity to showcase your college's model programs, practices, and initiatives. The conference features four key tracks—Leadership and Organization, Learning and Teaching, Student Support and Development, and Workforce Preparation and Development—where you can share lessons learned and successful strategies. Presentation formats include one-hour forums, roundtable discussions, and poster sessions, providing various ways to engage with key issues and innovative practices.

The League for Innovation invites proposals from League Board members, League Alliance representatives, and other community college professionals, including conference sponsors. Presenters must register and pay the conference fee. The deadline for proposal submissions has been extended to October 16, 2024. For more details on submission criteria, guidelines, and additional conference information, visit the 2025 Innovations Conference website.

The Advanced Technology Technician Training program, offered by CareersInTech.us, is an 8-month intensive designed for students in technical education who aspire to excel in the micro and nano technology industries. Running from October 18, 2024, to May 9, 2025, the program offers participants hands-on learning opportunities, insights from industry partners, and potential earnings of up to $3,000 in stipends. Additionally, students will receive application support for securing summer internships in relevant tech fields.

Throughout the program, participants will engage in weekly Zoom meetings hosted by the Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) and complete challenges in the MNTFolio online ePortfolio. They will also work through three core modules using TAP3D virtual reality simulations, with an option to earn an extra $500 by completing additional modules.

To apply, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a valid Social Security or Tax ID number and must be enrolled in a technical education program at a U.S. community college or technical school. High school students in dual enrollment programs are also eligible to apply. Applications are due...

Do you have an innovative practice or groundbreaking research to share with your community college colleagues from around the world?

You’re invited to submit a presentation proposal highlighting best and promising practices that enhance student success at community and technical colleges. Presenting at this conference offers you a unique professional development opportunity to collaborate with experts, gain recognition, and expand your professional portfolio. As a presenter, you'll receive complimentary conference registration, valuable feedback, and the chance to be part of a dynamic community dedicated to student success.

The conference will feature sessions across key tracks: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice; Online, Face-to-Face, and Hybrid Teaching and Learning; and Student Services, Support, and Success. All sessions will be conducted via Zoom.

To be eligible to present at NISOD’s annual Fall Virtual Conference, you must be employed by a community college, technical college, not-for-profit organization, or university. Presenters from for-profit companies are eligible if they are conference sponsors. Find out more on the NISOD website and submit your proposal by...

Career and technical educators face frequent requests from their industry partners to build the professional skills of their graduates but tend to respond by providing only brief activities outside the classroom which focus mostly on resume writing and job interview preparation. This approach, while practical, misses an opportunity to deepen students’ opportunities to develop the important skills and mindsets that will contribute to their career success as much as their technical competency.

To broaden technical students’ access to developing their professional skills, Project GOALS (Greater Opportunities to Advance Lifelong Success) brought together education researchers and educators to co-design and test instructional resources for developing skills and mindsets such as communication, teamwork, initiative, and openness to lifelong learning.

With funding from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program, Project GOALS was tested over four academic terms in multiple classes in three technical fields: advanced manufacturing, automotive, and computer-aided design. This work has produced a downloaded instructor handbook, student handbook, rubrics, and...

The Department of Labor (DOL) has launched the fifth round of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (SCC5) program, announcing approximately $65 million in grant funds available for application by September 24, 2024.

This initiative is designed to enhance community colleges' ability to meet employers' skill development needs and support students in securing quality jobs in high-demand industries. Priority will be given to proposals aligning with the Administration’s Investing in America Agenda, particularly in infrastructure sectors. Importantly, at least one grant will be awarded to a Tribally Controlled College if eligible applications are received.

The SCC5 grants continue the program's focus on sector-based career pathways, which have shown positive employment outcomes. Notably, previous lead applicants and consortium members from SCC4 are ineligible to reapply in the same capacity for SCC5, although grantees from Rounds 1-3 may apply if they propose a different industry sector.

To date, the DOL has issued four rounds of SCC grants, involving 170 colleges across 31 states. These grants have supported sectors like advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and...

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced a $77.8 million investment aimed at bolstering climate resilience through 14 projects under the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). This funding spans 50 institutions across 21 jurisdictions, targeting states that have traditionally received lower levels of research funding. NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan emphasized the initiative's importance in addressing climate change impacts nationwide by fostering innovation, strengthening STEM education, and supporting economic growth.

The funded projects involve interdisciplinary teams working collaboratively to advance climate change research and resilience. Examples include Louisiana Tech University's project on sustainable energy and water reuse systems, the University of New Hampshire's nature-based climate solutions, and the University of Vermont's water management strategies guided by Indigenous knowledge. These projects aim to develop climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, expand STEM opportunities, and enhance the resilience of underserved and disproportionately affected communities across the United States.

A recent report by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation reveals that Americans maintain more confidence in community colleges than four-year institutions, primarily due to the cost-effectiveness and perceived value of two-year public colleges. Nearly half (48%) of Americans express significant confidence in community colleges, while only one-third (33%) feel the same about four-year colleges and universities. The report is based on a survey of 2,180 U.S. adults conducted last month.

The report highlights political and racial differences in confidence levels. Republicans show much lower confidence in both community colleges and four-year institutions compared to Democrats and independents, but they still view two-year colleges more favorably. Among Republicans, 36% express confidence in community colleges, versus 15% for four-year schools. Independents hold more confidence in both, while a majority of Democrats (67%) trust community colleges compared to 58% for four-year institutions. Racially, both Whites and people of color rate community colleges similarly, but people of color have a higher confidence in four-year schools (39% vs. 30%). Overall, Americans rate community colleges...