Letter to Thomas Perez, Secretary of Labor - TAACCCT Grant for SUNY

Letter

Dear Secretary Perez,

We write in support of the application submitted by the State University of New York (SUNY) for funding from Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program (SGA/DFA PY 13-10) through the U.S. Department of Labor. This funding will help support the New York Advancing Integrated Manufacturing Statewide (NY AIMS) for Jobs project.

Community colleges play a critical role in delivering career and technical education programs that will prepare students for jobs in growing industries, like mechatronics. Mechatronics, also known as integrated manufacturing and engineering, is an emerging field that combines electrical, mechanical, computer, and industrial engineering. The NY AIMS for Jobs project proposes the development and implementation of mechatronics degree and certificate programs statewide. This project would expand upon a one-year Mechatronics Certificate Program and implement it at 18 community colleges, with Erie Community College (ECC) as the lead applicant and fiscal agent for the Statewide Community College Consortium.

The requested funding will be used to implement the NY AIMS for Jobs project to support TAA-eligible workers, veterans and other adults to qualify for and obtain jobs in mechatronics. This TAACCCT grant will give the SUNY consortium the ability to work with stakeholders to design mechatronics programs, and further the capacity of SUNY colleges to offer training and education in mechatronics. Partnering community colleges will jointly design and implement new, modularized curricula that build upon the one-year certificate program, to ensure worker adaptability in rapidly expanding manufacturing sectors. The NY AIMS for Jobs project will also provide substantial professional development to faculty at all 30 SUNY community colleges to better build their capacity to implement these new curricula, incorporate competency-based education in new and existing programs, and collaborate with national partners to create nationally recognized credentials to ensure students have relevant skills for jobs in growing sectors.

We ask that you please give this application your full consideration. If you have any questions, or desire further information, please do not hesitate to our staff.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

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