In the third round of Straight A Grants by the Ohio Department of Education, Collins Career Technical Center (CCTC) was a participating member in a consortium led by Tri-Rivers Career Center, which was awarded six grants of $1 million each to expand robotics and advanced manufacturing by replicating the Marion RAMTEC (Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative) in an additional 12 career centers. Earlier, through the second round of Straight A Grants, 8 additional RAMTECs were created.

In addition to CCTC, other RAMTEC sites include Ashland County-West Holmes JVSD, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Mid-East Career and Technology Center, Pickaway-Ross JVSD, US Grant CTPD, Delaware Area Career Center, Southern Hills, Vantage Career Center, Warren County CTC, EHOVE Career Center and Wayne County JVSD. Scioto County Career Technical Center also received a separate grant to create a RAMTEC for a total of 22 RAMTECs in Ohio.

As a part of this statewide consortium and Straight A Grant initiative, the STEM Academy at CCTC will open an advanced manufacturing training center in order to address the existing skills gap by preparing high school students, adult students, and incumbent workers with advanced manufacturing and engineering skills. The RAMTEC model will be implemented in Fall 2016 in the STEM Academy at CCTC for 11th grade high school students.

“RAMTEC course offerings for Adult Education students are being explored and will be offered in the future,” CCTC Postsecondary Director Jaime Chafin said.

“Business and industry do not have the skilled workers needed to upgrade and automate,” Steve Dodgion, Collins CTC superintendent, said. “This grant will help replicate the successes that have been realized at the RAMTEC center in Marion, Ohio. The best practices used there will be brought to Lawrence County where we will work to expand advanced manufacturing career-technical learning opportunities in robotics for middle school through postsecondary education. We intend to work with Mountwest Community and Technical College (MCTC), the Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI), BridgeValley Community and Technical College, and Shawnee State University (SSU) to help industry in the Tri-State area work to get to the next level in manufacturing.”

“RAMTEC will prepare students to directly enter the workforce or pursue advanced degrees by building a solid foundation while gaining hands on robotics and automation experience and earning factory certifications,” Matt Freeman, CCTC STEM Academy RAMTEC Coordinator and Robotics Coach, said.

Collaboration among industry and education partners will result in several career pathways and certifications for Robotics and Industrial Maintenance. Industrial Maintenance certification areas will include CNC (computer numerical control) machining, PLC (programmable logistic controls), hydraulics and pneumatics. Training will be conducted with equipment from FANUC Robotics, Yaskawa Motoman Robotics, Rockwell International, Mitsubishi, Parker Hannifin, and FANUC CNC that is being used by leading manufacturers. Career pathways include Robotics Technology (RCBI/ MCTC), postsecondary certifications (CCTC Adult Education), Advanced Manufacturing Technician (BridgeValley CTC) and Electromechanical Engineering Technology (SSU).

For questions and to enroll, please contact the STEM Academy Principal, Andrea Zaph at zaphra@collins-cc.edu or 740-867-6641 x374.