ATE Impacts 2020-2021

Mechatronics with Instrumentation and Controls {Mwl() Central Community College, Columbus, NE http : / /mechatronics-mec.org Project Sparks Student Interest in Mechatronics MwlC worked with its Business and Industry Leadership Team to develop a process instrumentation and controls pathway in the existing mechatronics AAS degree program. This is the first two­ year instrumentation program in Nebraska and addresses the process industry's need for technicians. MwlC has • developed six new credit courses; • created custom-designed trainers for hands-on learning; • helped establish multiple scholarship and internship opportunities; Mechatronics students work on MwlC custom-designed trainers in the new state-of-the-art Instrumentation and Controls Learning Laboratory. • raised awareness of mechatronics careers with high school presentations, open houses, and hands-on lab events; and • provided professional development workshops to teachers and administrators from 50 high schools. Together these efforts have increased enrollment by 25% from 59 in 2016-17 to 74 in 2018-19. Northwest Engineering and Vehicle Technology Exchange (NMEX) Central Oregon Community College and Rio Hondo College, Bend, OR and Whittier, CA http : / /ate.is/NEVTEX NEVTEX Develops Standards for Technicians of Electric-Drive Vehicles West Coast automotive consumers' use of electric-drive vehicles has increased demand for technicians to maintain electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. These vehicles' use of high-voltage electricity or high-pressure gaseous fuels requires a dramatic redesign of automotive technician education programs. NEVTEX is working with 30 industry and community college partners to create a standardized approach for training and certifying electric-drive vehicle technicians. Project leaders hope the standards will eventually lead to a licensing process for these highly skilled automotive technicians. The project's outreach liaisons have talked about vehicle electrification careers with 5,500 students in Oregon and California; program enrollments are increasing. Students at NEVTEXpartner colleges learn to use analysis tools for predictive maintenance of hybrid vehicles.