Cleveland State Community College has scheduled a number of town hall information sessions for the Advanced Technologies Institute throughout the month of March. The Cleveland session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 3 at 8:30 a.m. in the Technology Building Room T-132 on main campus. Additional town halls have been scheduled for Thursday, March 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the Athens Center and Thursday, March 18 at 5 p.m. at the Monroe County Center. Participants have the option of attending the sessions in-person or virtually through zoom.
The ATI blends classroom instruction with on-site manufacturing experience at various industry partner sites.
Classes such as Electrical Components, Mechanical Components & Electric Motors, Electro-Pneumatic & Hydraulic Control, and Digital Fundamentals and PLCs are offered, among numerous other courses geared toward a career in the manufacturing industry. Upon completion of the program, graduates will earn an associate degree in mechatronics technology. For those students interested in an engineering/STEAM path this will be an easy transition to Middle Tennessee State University or University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“The ATI is an exciting program that puts Cleveland State students to work on the days that they aren't going to school,” stated Larissa Coleman, GIVE Grant coordinator. “It is a true co-education partnership with leading local industry. The ATI prepares students for the workforce not only with hands-on training, but soft-skills such as interviewing, communication skills and people skills.
Ms. Coleman continued, “The purpose of the town hall information sessions it to spread the word about Cleveland State's ATI and the partnerships we are forming. The ATI is designed to build a strong workforce for our five-county service area. Cleveland State will have several industry partners present to discuss their experiences with the ATI.”
The ATI is a real-world experience that allows students to “earn while they learn.” Some of the benefits of the ATI include:
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a debt-free education
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the ability to earn wages while in school
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gain real world experience
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work with local world-class manufacturers
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enter the job market with industry training and skills
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and the opportunities to transfer to a university
Students in the ATI are able to choose from concentrations such as Computer Information Technology, Mechatronics Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Electrical Electromechanical Technology, Engineering Systems Technology, HVAC and Refrigeration and Welding.
In order to be selected, candidates are asked to submit an application for the college as well as a separate application for the ATI. These prospective students are selectively chosen and accepted based on academic success, ACT / SAT scores, written essay and commitment to work in a team and problem-solving environment.
“I found out about the ATI through one of my dad’s coworkers,” stated Edi Abdulahu, ATI participant. “I liked how you could go to both work and school and use what you learned at school and apply it to your work. This meant much more hands-on experience than just in class. I’ve always had a passion for working with cars and working with my hands, so this was like a dream come true for me. I’m very thankful for this opportunity.”
For more information on Cleveland State’s ATI, visit the website at mycs.cc/ATI. To RSVP for one of the town halls, contact Larissa Coleman at 423-614-8749.
For more information on Cleveland State Community College, call 423-472-7141 or visit the college at Clevelandstatecc.edu.