Registration is open for the first cohort in Austin Community College District’s (ACC) newest bachelor’s degree program. The Bachelor’s of Applied Technology (BAT) in Manufacturing Engineering Technology is designed to move working professionals in manufacturing into more advanced career roles and help fill growing workforce gaps in the industry.
“Too often, we hear that companies in our community are forced to hire outside the local talent pool because there aren’t enough prepared and skilled workers here. We want to change that,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC chancellor. “This new bachelor’s degree gives us the opportunity to provide a more accessible and affordable pathway. It means more people in our community can advance their careers.”
The program is the college’s third bachelor’s degree. It’s available to professionals who already have an applicable associate degree in programs including, but not limited to:
Demand for skilled professionals continues to outpace qualified workers in the region. Texas is home to more than 17,000 manufacturing companies. According to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, there are currently 65,000 manufacturing jobs, and demand is expected to grow.
“Our bachelor’s degree will open doors into high-paying careers and allow for social mobility. Manufacturing careers continue to expand, but our partners are struggling to fill these positions with skilled workers,” says Laura Marmolejo, ACC department chair for Manufacturing. “This degree will be cost-effective and delivered in a variety of formats to include students who might not otherwise have access to a bachelor’s program.”
The program will be housed at ACC Highland with both full- and part-time cohorts. It will include hybrid and online course options and an internship component for all students.
The program and its curricula were designed in partnership with an industry advisory committee including Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, Tesla, NXP, Flex, Applied Materials, Athena Manufacturing, Arm Automation, AirBorn, Flowbelow, and Ovivo.
Students will focus on professional practice, scholarly inquiry, organizational leadership, management principles, engineering principles, and the technical skills to identify and resolve production problems in the manufacturing of products.
The college hosts a series of information sessions and conversations for anyone who wants to learn more:
Saturday, May 21, (IN-PERSON) 10 a.m.-Noon (Highland Campus, Presentation Hall)
Thursday, June 9, (IN-PERSON) 6-8 p.m. (Highland Campus, Presentation Hall)
The program will launch in fall 2022 with up to 50 students in the first cohort.
For more information about careers and programs in Engineering Technology, visit austincc.edu/bmet.