College Receives $765,224 Grant from National Science Foundation
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA • August 16, 2016)—Delaware County Community College has been awarded a $765,224 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program.
Titled “Strengthening the Teaching and Learning of Electro-Mechanical Technology,” the ATE project is designed to address a critical demand for highly skilled advanced manufacturing technicians in southeastern Pennsylvania. With over 92 percent of manufacturing employers responding to a 2014 regional survey citing difficulty finding highly skilled workforce as a critical need, this project is designed to use an early college to university career preparation pathway to train electro-mechanical technicians to meet industry demands.
The three-year project addresses four key objectives. First, the ATE program’s strengthened curriculum and expanded access to an industry-aligned, early college-to-university pathway will offer entry-level, advanced skill career opportunities. Second, the program will work with area employers to offer industry apprenticeships that will support student learning and provide employment for students to earn as they learn. Third, the project will develop and implement a technical teacher-educator professional development program to improve the teaching competencies of technical education faculty, many of whom are adjunct instructors whose full-time employment is in industry. Fourth, a comprehensive program evaluation will be done to ensure continuous program improvement and industry alignment.
The College’s Electro-Mechanical Technologies certificate program begins on October 20 at the Exton Center (906 Springdale Drive, Exton, PA). Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9:30 p.m. The program is designed to prepare students for employment as electro-mechanical technicians who assemble, install, troubleshoot and/or repair mechanical, electrical and fluid power systems. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, electro-mechanical technicians make a median annual salary of $53,340.
For more information, contact Dr. Radecka Appiah-Padi, Assistant Dean for Workforce Development and Community Education, at 610-723-4031 or Susan Shisler Rapp, Director of Grants Management, at 610-359-5040.
