Lakeshore Technical College Secures $650,000 National Science Foundation Grant
The college’s largest and fourth NSF grant received in four years.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/17/2023
CLEVELAND, WI —
Lakeshore Technical College has received a $650,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, its fourth and largest NSF grant in four years. The grant will fund the establishment of a new type of charter school that is expected to help address the continuing labor shortage in the manufacturing sector.
Manufacturing is the largest industry sector in the Lakeshore community. It provides a third of high demand jobs with annual median wages over $60,000. Lakeshore Technical College will partner with the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District and industry employers to develop an advanced manufacturing technology charter school, the first of its kind in the state.
“This grant will have a significant impact on the community. It will provide students the opportunity to embark on a fast-track trajectory for education that will prepare them to graduate as workforce-ready advanced manufacturing technicians and be ready for additional industry-focused college coursework,” said Lakeshore President Paul Carlsen. “Graduates entering the workforce will find themselves in high demand, earning much higher wages than the average high school graduate.”
Rocket Academy Dual Credit Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Charter School, RADCAM TEC for short, will provide an educational pathway incorporating dual credit courses, youth apprenticeships, school-to-work, and job shadowing opportunities.
According to Carlsen, graduates of RADCAM TEC will be ready to fill jobs for skilled technicians in areas including computer numerical control (CNC), machine tool, welding, and industrial maintenance. Since women and individuals from low-income backgrounds are traditionally underrepresented in those areas, the grant will also fund efforts to broaden participation among students in those populations.
RADCAM TEC will provide advanced manufacturing instruction using Lakeshore’s competency-based education curriculum. Students will progress through courses by demonstrating mastery of competencies aligned within program and course curriculum. They will earn both college and high school credit which can lead to the attainment of their high school diploma as well as college certificates and technical diplomas. Courses taken to complete certificates and technical diplomas can be applied toward four industry-specific associate degrees at Lakeshore, shortening the time to completion.
For more information about Lakeshore’s advanced manufacturing program options, visit gotoltc.edu/programs-and-courses/degree-programs.
About Lakeshore Technical College
Lakeshore Technical College is a comprehensive community and technical college educating more than 8,000 students annually. Students enroll at Lakeshore to master real-world, employable career skills and start their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Lakeshore faculty and staff are focused on providing each individual student an individualized learning experience.
Lakeshore Technical College is a nationally recognized two-year college. The college was ranked the #2 in the nation by Washington Monthly, #17 in the nation by Forbes, #20 in the nation by WallerHub.com, a top-150 two-year college by the Aspen Institute, a top 10 Bellwether Award finalist four out of the last five years, and named the 2021 Large Business/Industry of the Year by the Chamber of Manitowoc County.
Approximately 800 students graduate from Lakeshore each year, and associate degree graduates report earning a median salary of $59,899 within six months of graduating. In addition to the Cleveland campus, Lakeshore educates students at learning campuses in downtown Manitowoc and downtown Sheboygan, as well as in rural Manitowoc County at its School of Ag. Classes are also offered at additional sites throughout the district. Visit Lakeshore at gotoltc.edu.
