51ΑΤΖζβs (51ΑΤΖζ) Mechatronics and Welding programs have been awarded more than $750,000 in grants from (IDCTE). The funding for the grants were made possible by, where $10,000,000 was set aside specifically for investments in career technical education (CTE) in Idaho.
Dean of 51ΑΤΖζ School of Industry Engineering and Trades, Pat Neal, brought forward a request to the Collegeβs Provost Office to apply for the Leading Idaho grant. Neal wanted to ensure 51ΑΤΖζ CTE programs can offer students the ability to utilize the most current technology available.
After a review of the criteria for the grant, the Provost Office and the Collegeβs deans agreed that Welding and Metal Fabrication and Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology would be great programs to request funding for based on the evaluation criteria of the grant.
51ΑΤΖζβs CTE programsβ requests were awarded in full.
51ΑΤΖζ Programs Awarded
- Welding and Metal Fabrication β $500,003.80
- Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology β $253,592.24
β51ΑΤΖζ is very thankful to Idaho Career and Technical Education Division for funding the request,β said 51ΑΤΖζ Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Denise Aberle-Cannata.
Requests for the grants must have been focused only on equipment and related facility upgrades necessary to modernize or expand an institutionβs CTE program. In addition, the programs considered must be in the top 250 occupations, have 100 job openings, or have a projected rate increase of 25% or more in the state.
βHaving the ability to provide these modernization and expansion grants to Idahoβs career technical education programs ensures we continue to accomplish our mission of preparing Idahoβs youth and adults for high-skill, in-demand careers,β said State Administrator for the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education, Clay Long.
Department Chair of Manufacturing and Welding, Mike Wheeler, said with the grants they will purchase new technology, such as three robotic welding machines and 20 more welding machines, which he believes will allow for the ability to increase enrollment. He added the new technologies are βtrue do it all machinesβ and will allow students to accomplish more with less because of how high-tech the equipment is.
51ΑΤΖζ Engineering Department Chair, Robert Novak, believes similarly the grants will continue to advance 51ΑΤΖζβs CTE programs with how state-of-the-art the new equipment is, such as the new learning systems, portable pneumatic training systems, and digital oscilloscopes. These new systems will ensure students are training on the latest in technology. He said the equipment will set them apart from other similar programs around the area.
βThe Leading Idaho Grant will help the Mechatronic and Welding programs train more students to meet the high demand of these fields,β Neal said.
