Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) has received a three-year, $943,734 grant from the National Science Foundation to expand access to its Smart Systems Technologies (SST) degree program.
The funding will allow the college to broaden its reach by offering more flexible, remote learning options in automation, robotics, and mechatronics — fields that are in high demand among small and mid-sized technology companies.
“FLCC’s core mission is to make education accessible, a task more challenging in high-tech fields,” said FLCC President Robert Nye. “This grant will equip the college to serve more people who need better technical skills to get ahead in life.”
The SST program prepares students for careers in industries where employers need workers who can quickly adapt and learn multiple skill sets. The grant will support several initiatives to make the program more accessible:
- HyFlex courses that can be attended in person, live online, or through recorded sessions.
- Lab kits mailed to students, enabling them to complete exercises at home.
- Online access to industrial-grade technology used in modern manufacturing settings.
The project also aims to expand co-op opportunities, which provide students with paid internships and hands-on experience. Professor Sam Samanata, coordinator of the SST program, said these placements motivate students to persist through challenges.
“Many students in technology and emerging fields are dropping out of college partly because they run into some personal or academic difficulty,” he said. “With our students, when they start a co-op, they develop a good understanding of the opportunities and career paths going forward.”
FLCC’s efforts are part of the NSF’s Advanced Technological Education program, which focuses on training technicians to bridge gaps between education and workforce needs. In New York State, more than 4 million working-age adults lack a college degree, while many bachelor’s degree holders are underemployed.
The SST program is also eligible for the SUNY Reconnect program, which covers academic costs for adults ages 25 to 55 who do not yet have a college degree. More information is available at flcc.edu/freecc.
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