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News Release 13-106

'M-List' Recognizes Institutions Preparing Workers to Industry Standards in Advanced Manufacturing

NSF-funded advanced manufacturing education projects are well-represented at institutions receiving Manufacturing Institute's seal of approval

Students observe a 3-D projection of an aircraft engine

Students observe a 3-D projection of an aircraft engine at the South Carolina ATE center.


June 14, 2013

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

The Manufacturing Institute recently announced the charter members of the M-List, a designation recognizing excellence in manufacturing education. M-List members are institutions that are preparing students to industry standards in advanced manufacturing, with students earning credentials that are in the NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System

Manufacturing has evolved in recent decades, and today's manufacturers require a highly skilled workforce. The M-list provides a service for both employers and students, connecting them to an environment that develops skilled welders, machinists, production workers, and other key positions essential to manufacturing.

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Advanced Technological Education program (ATE) aims to strengthen the skills of technicians, whose work is vitally important to the nation's prosperity and security, through grants to community colleges. Through ATE centers and projects, community colleges have a leadership role and work in partnership with universities, secondary schools, business and industry, and government agencies to design and carry out model workforce development initiatives. Almost every institution on the M-list has or has had NSF funding through ATE, representing technician education in fields ranging from renewable energy to engineering technology to aerospace.

"ATE has a lot of models for successful interaction between academe and industry," said ATE lead program director Celeste Carter. "Institutions have leveraged the use of NSF funds to build the infrastructure and capacity of their institutions to be responsive to both students and emerging trends in industry."

"The Manufacturing Institute is proud to recognize schools that are providing the highest quality manufacturing education," said Jennifer McNelly, president of the Manufacturing Institute. "We are pleased to see so many ATE centers included on this list, and look forward highlighting additional ATE institutions as they incorporate NAM-Endorsed certifications."

Institutions on the M-list follow:

California
California State University, Chico
College of the Canyons
Reedley College

Florida
Brevard Community College
Broward College
College of Central Florida
Florida Gateway College
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Hillsborough Community College
Pensacola State College
Polk State College
St. Petersburg College
State College of Florida
Tallahassee Community College

Illinois
Harper College

Indiana
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

Iowa
Des Moines Area Community College
Kirkwood Community College

Kansas
Wichita Area Technical College

Michigan
Kellogg Community College

Minnesota
Anoka Technical College
Dunwoody College of Technology
South Central College

Nevada
Western Nevada College

North Carolina
Cape Fear Community College
Central Carolina Community College
Central Piedmont Community College
Cleveland Community College
Forsyth Technical Community College
Halifax Community College
Randolph Community College

Ohio
Cuyahoga Community College
Lorain County Community College

Pennsylvania
Community College of Allegheny County
Lehigh Career and Technical Institute

South Carolina
Florence-Darlington Technical College

Texas
Alamo Colleges

Washington
Shoreline Community College

Wisconsin
Gateway Technical College

-NSF-

Media Contacts
 Maria C. Zacharias, NSF, (703) 292-8454, email: mzachari@nsf.gov

Related Websites
Obama Administration Launches Competition for Three New Manufacturing Innovation Institutes: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/09/obama-administration-launches-competition-three-new-manufacturing-innova
Community College Cybersecurity Program Trains 21st Century Workforce: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/cybersecurity.jsp

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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