Developing PLC and Robotic Automation Technician Training for Service Industries

该项目旨在通过解决服务行业中具有维护可编程逻辑控制器(PLC)和机器人的技能的技术人员短缺的问题，为国家利益服务。沃恩航空技术学院的项目提供了PLC和机器人自动化(PRA)技师证书课程，以解决大纽约市(NYC)地区服务业的这一短缺问题。作为一家服务于拉美裔美国人的机构，沃恩接受了来自低收入和第一代大学家庭的学生，以及来自代表性不足的种族和民族的学生。为期一年的证书计划减少了希望继续教育以提高向上流动性的学生的经济和时间承诺。提供这一额外途径不仅满足了服务行业的需求，还增加了PRA技术人员的多样性。该项目的目标是创建一个为期一年的24学分计划，为PRA技术人员提供在服务行业就业所需的技能。为了确保该项目的毕业生具备所需的资质，该项目(A)与其工商领导团队合作，以确定服务业的需求并制定满足这些需求的课程；(B)支持教师获得认证；(C)利用新开发的信息材料招募高中生和在职员工；以及(D)通过与沃恩现有的项目合作，从技术人员队伍中代表性较低的群体(包括女性、种族和少数族裔)招收学生，从而增加PRA技术人员队伍的多样性。此外，通过ATE中心以及在区域和国家会议上分享了对服务业技术教育的理解的进步。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by addressing the shortage of technicians with the skills to maintain the programable logic controllers (PLCs) and robots in the service industries. The project at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology provides a PLC and Robotic Automation (PRA) Technician certificate program to address this shortage in the service industries in the greater New York City (NYC) area. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Vaughn has embraced students from low-income and first-generation college families, as well as from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. The one-year certificate program reduces the financial and time commitments for students who want to pursue education to improve their upward mobility. Providing this additional pathway not only meets the needs of service industries but also increases diversity in PRA technicians. The goal of the project is to create a one-year 24-credit program to provide PRA technicians with the skills they need for employment in service industries. To ensure graduates of the program have the desired qualifications, the project (a) collaborates with its Business and Industry Leadership Team to determine the service industry needs and develop curriculum to meet them; (b) supports faculty to obtain certifications; (c) recruits both high-school students and incumbent workers using newly developed informational materials; and (d) increases diversity in the PRA technician workforce by partnering with Vaughn’s existing programs to recruit students from groups underrepresented in the technician workforce including women and racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally, advancements in the understanding of technical education for service industries are shared through ATE Central and at regional and national conferences. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the Nation’s economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.