Collin College Continues Vital IT Training with Columbus State Community College in New NSF Grant

Collin College is thrilled to announce its collaboration with the National Information Technology Innovation Center (NITIC), under the leadership of Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio. This strategic subaward partnership is aimed at furthering the development and implementation of training and educational programs essential for today's rapidly evolving technology landscape.

Funded by a substantial $7.5 million federal grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program, NITIC is poised to become the premier ATE national center dedicated to IT education. The demand for IT training is soaring, with STEM-enabled technician roles projected to grow at twice the rate of average job growth in the United States over the next decade. Columbus State, at the forefront of this groundbreaking initiative, is joined by Collin College, Lone Star College, Maricopa Community College, and Sinclair College. 

1. Celeste Carter, director of the NSF's ATE program, emphasized the collective experience and expertise of Columbus State and its NITIC partner institutions in advancing IT education within their respective regions.  

"The launch of NITIC will address the industry's pressing need for highly skilled technical professionals in the rapidly evolving U.S. IT sector,” Carter said. “NITIC will propel and bolster IT education by engaging the diverse and dynamic network of community colleges across the nation." 

Collin College's National Convergence Technology Center (CTC) has held the esteemed role of hosting the NSF national center since 2012, and it is now preparing to conclude its engagement this month. Throughout its tenure as the national center, Collin College's CTC provided mentorship to over 100 colleges spanning more than 30 states through its community of practice known as the Convergence College Network (CCN). Additionally, it launched two CCN subgroups, hosted professional development conferences, and actively promoted services and resources aimed at enhancing student employability skills and fostering awareness of its national Business and Industry Leadership Team. 

Mark Dempsey, assistant director of Collin College's Convergence Technology Center, expressed pride in the achievements accomplished over the past decade as the leading institution and conveyed their honor in continuing the CTC’s work with Columbus State. 

"We are immensely proud of the accomplishments we've achieved during our tenure as the national center over the last 10 years, and we consider it an honor to collaborate with Columbus State in furthering this crucial work,” Dempsey said. 

Collin College serves more than 57,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 200 degrees and certificates, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Construction Management, and a new Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Clinical Operations Management. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government, and industry, providing customized training and workforce development. For more information, visit www.collin.edu.