Independence Community College has been awarded a $987,589 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase interest, education and employment opportunities in STEM and advanced manufacturing careers throughout rural Southeast Kansas. The grant does not require matching funds from ICC.
The project, “Increasing Interest and Employment in STEM Studies and Manufacturing Careers in Rural Areas,” will begin Oct. 15 and will build upon ICC’s existing workforce and STEM efforts while creating new opportunities for students and regional employers.
Through the project, ICC will focus on increasing student interest and success in technological careers, strengthening connections between classroom instruction and skills sought by employers, incorporating industry-recognized certifications and expanding internship and apprenticeship opportunities.
“ICC is excited to continue increasing interest and creating opportunities in STEM studies and manufacturing careers throughout rural Southeast Kansas through this U.S. National Science Foundation grant,” said Taylor Crawshaw, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “This project will allow us to strengthen the connection between the classroom and the workforce by helping students develop the skills, certifications and industry connections they need to be successful in technological careers. Just as importantly, we’ll continue working directly with our regional business and industry partners to make sure our curriculum reflects the skills employers need and prepares students for opportunities right here in our region.”
The grant will strengthen the connection between education and employment by allowing ICC to work with regional industries to develop paid internships and apprenticeships in hard-to-fill technical positions. The project is designed to expand those opportunities throughout the three-year grant period while providing students with meaningful, hands-on experience in technical workplaces.
Regional employers will also play an active role through ICC’s existing Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT). Manufacturing leaders will provide feedback on workforce needs, training strategies, industry-recognized career pathways and certifications to help ensure ICC’s programs continue to align with the skills employers are seeking.
Another component of the project will explore new approaches to mathematics instruction for students pursuing technical careers. ICC faculty and project staff will work to incorporate more real-world applications into traditional mathematics coursework, helping students connect mathematical concepts with skills they may use in technical and manufacturing workplaces.
The grant will also support equipment and curriculum for industry-recognized training in areas including precision measurement, multimeter use, mechanical and electronic torque, and hand tool identification and safety.
The initiative responds to a significant workforce need in Southeast Kansas, where manufacturing plays an important role in the regional economy. In Montgomery County, manufacturing accounts for 22.8 percent of employment, compared with 12.7 percent statewide, while regional employers continue to face challenges finding highly skilled employees.
By bringing together education, workforce preparation and direct industry involvement, the project is designed to strengthen pathways from the classroom into technical careers while helping meet the workforce needs of manufacturers throughout Southeast Kansas.