Arkansas Tech Career Center receives $664,326 grant

The Arkansas Tech Career Center, managed by Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus, has received a $664,325 grant from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education to improve automation technology education and greater rural access to career education.

The center, located in Russellville with satellite offices in Clarksville, Danville and Paris, works with secondary students at the 16 high schools that it serves as well as postsecondary students for careers in manufacturing in west and west-central Arkansas.

Outcomes of the grant will include the creation of the Arkansas Tech University Career Training Alliance. Through the alliance, students will have access to stackable degrees that will allow them to progress to an Associate of Applied Science degree in automation technology and continue through a baccalaureate degree program at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

“As shown from an ATU-Ozark survey of partner industries, skill sets in industrial automation technology are of current and anticipated need,” Bruce Sikes, chancellor of Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus, said in a statement. “We also know through workforce development region data that manufacturing and production jobs are among the highest projected growth sectors across both regions our alliance encompasses. We have found through collected empirical data that automation technology is a top three need at partner industry facilities.

Funds from the grant are allowing ATCC to acquire new equipment and hire new faculty members in automation technology.