OCTC Receives NSF Grant to Increase the Number of Women in Manufacturing

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (06/18/2018) — OCTC was recently awarded a $523,171 grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program. The ATE program focuses on promoting the improvement of education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and secondary school levels in support of high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy. OCTC's project entitled, Advancing Female Incumbent Workers in the Manufacturing Industry (NSF Award Number: 1800489) will address this focus by increasing partnerships between academia, industry, and others to advance the participation of women in the manufacturing industry, thus promoting a diverse, globally competitive workforce in Kentucky and the nation. The three-year grant project will officially begin on July 1, 2018.

The ultimate goal of OCTC's project is to increase the number of females participating in manufacturing training programs and careers in the greater Owensboro region. Currently females make up only about 44% in the number of technical students enrolled at OCTC. This percentage drops lower, to about 7.4%, when you remove the healthcare students. The grant hopes to increase our percentage of females in manufacturing programs to 50% of the current enrollment." Added Sheri Plain, Project Director.

The project will capitalize on the success of the GO FAME model and work to increase the number of female students in an apprenticeship-like training model. Students in the program will attend college classes two days per week and work at a sponsoring manufacturing company three days per week.

To do this, OCTC will partner with many local manufacturers, who are highly involved in the Greater Owensboro chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (GO FAME), the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation and the Greater Owensboro Alliance for Education are also key partners for this project.

"We are thrilled to be able to support this program through the resources provided in this NSF grant. It is a testament to our public/private partnership that we were able to secure the funds for this project. This is a true game changer for our region" commented Scott Williams, OCTC President.

The next step in the project will be increasing the number of females in GO FAME's Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program. Participants will be recruited from incumbent workers in production positions from within GO FAME member companies, as well as women who may or may not currently be working in the manufacturing field, but who have some previous work experience in a production capacity. It is anticipated that selecting women more familiar with the culture and manufacturing environment will enhance retention and program success.

Coursework is accelerated due to a year-round schedule (without fall, spring, and summer breaks) allowing students to complete a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in a 20-month period. Students will be assisted in securing potential financial resources to assist them in participating in postsecondary education, including those available through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship, Title IV Financial Aid, and other scholarship programs.

Project strategies will include implementing proven recruitment and retention tactics, such as intensive advising, support services, and mentoring.

The project also seeks to create dialogue between schools, colleges, organizations, and employers through hosting facilitated discussions that promote increased awareness, perceptions, and communication leading to greater gender diversity in our local manufacturing industry.

The grant project will be implemented by OCTC's Manufacturing & Skilled Trades division with the Workforce Solutions team. Sheri Plain, grant PI, Dean Autry, grant co-PI, and Associate Dean of Manufacturing and Skilled Trades, Shawn Payne, OCTC Advanced Manufacturing Faculty, and Katie Vincent, Employer Liaison & Student Navigator, will all serve in key roles. For more information, please contact Sheri Plain at (270) 686-4436 or by email at sheri.plain@kctcs.edu.

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