Training Industrial Technicians for Today and Tomorrow

随着制造业继续向全自动化快速发展，多重挑战也浮出水面。就区域而言，这些挑战包括新兴的和未得到满足的行业对熟练掌握多工艺技术的技术人员的需求，招聘不到对该领域既有天赋又有愿望的个人。自2022年5月以来，对技术人员的需求持续增长，发布了206个职位，在国家公园社区学院(NPCC)服务的区域内，平均每月发布13个职位。该项目将填补目前先进制造业中存在的就业缺口，同时也将使学生为目前空缺或尚未设立的职位做好准备。在雇主通过商业和工业领导团队(BILT)的指导下，该项目将创建可堆叠的证书和多个学位路径。这些措施包括让高中生有机会首先通过正式教育计划进入该领域，然后继续作为和/或以其他方式在同一教育领域招收新的社区大学学生，最后将现有工人纳入相同的技能增强计划。通过这个项目，将招募至少20名学生作为高中生参加，以获得证书并寻求能够帮助他们获得副学士学位的机会。NPCC附近有三个机会地带，平均43%的居民生活在贫困中。根据美国人口普查局的数据，在NPCC所在的县，18-24岁的居民中只有32%完成了一定程度的高等教育，而美国的平均水平为55%。由于中学后教育程度的缺乏与贫困家庭的贫困密切相关，该项目提供了通过从这些机会区招收学生来改善这些条件的潜力。该项目的目标是更新和扩大当前的工业技术计划，使其更符合行业需求。大多数已确定的挑战将通过纳入将相关新兴技术与制造业相结合的行业认证和实验室升级来解决和缓解。此外，教师的专业发展将是这些步骤总体成功的关键。最后，该项目还将创造机会，通过实习、学徒前和学徒计划等形式创造以工作为基础的学习机会，纳入替代的交付模式。除了将新设立的文凭加入中学部门，从而进一步提高高中生的知识水平外，应用科学(AAS)通用技术副学士学位的学生还将获得多重集中和“停靠点”。停止点包括学术熟练证书(CPS)和可用于获得学位的技术证书(TC)。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和地区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。

As manufacturing continues its rapid evolution towards total automation, multiple challenges have surfaced. Regionally, these challenges include emerging and unmet industry demand for technicians skilled in multi-craft technologies, with recruitment falling short for individuals with both the aptitude and desire for the field. The demand for technicians continues to grow with 206 job postings since May 2022 with an average monthly posting of 13 jobs within the area served by National Park Community College (NPCC). This project will fill the employment gaps that currently exist in advanced manufacturing while also preparing students for positions currently unfilled or yet to be created. With guidance from employers through a Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) this project will create stackable credentials and multiple degree paths. These include opportunities for high school students to be introduced to the field initially through a formal education program, then to continue as and/or otherwise enroll new community college students in the same educational field, and finally to integrate incumbent workers in the same skills enhancements programming. Through this project, at least 20 students will be recruited to participate as high school students to earn certifications and pursue opportunities that can help them attain an associate degree. There are three opportunity zones in the vicinity of NPCC where on average 43% of residents live in poverty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 32% of residents between the ages of 18-24 in the county where NPCC is located have completed some level of postsecondary education compared to the US average of 55%. Since the lack of postsecondary educational attainment is strongly correlated with of families living in poverty, this project offers the potential to ameliorate these conditions by focusing on recruitment of students from these opportunity zones.The goal of the project is to update and expand the current Industrial Technology program to be more aligned with industry needs. The majority of the challenges identified will be addressed and mitigated with the inclusion of industry credentialing and laboratory upgrades that integrate relevant, emerging technologies with the manufacturing industry. Additionally, faculty professional development will be critical in the overall success of these steps. Lastly, this project will also create the opportunity to incorporate alternate delivery modes by creating work-based learning opportunities in the form of internships, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs. In addition to adding newly created credentials into the secondary school sector, thus further advancing the knowledge of high school students, multiple concentrations and “stop out points” will be available for students enrolled in the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) General Technology Degree. Stop out points include academic Certificates of Proficiency (CPs) and a Technical Certificate (TC) that can be applied towards degree attainment. 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 and region’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.