ATE is Advanced Technological Education. With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the National Science Foundation's ATE program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy.
AI in Business: A Faculty Primer for Community College
Webinar
April 3
Introductory webinar that offers a practical overview of how Artificial Intelligence is transforming modern business operations. Tailored for community college faculty, it explores AI’s role in decision-making, customer engagement, marketing, finance, and supply chain strategy, highlighting how data-driven tools are redefining agility, personalization, and efficiency across industries. Participants will examine real-world applications and industry challenges such as workforce readiness and ethical deployment, while gaining insights into preparing students with the critical skills to thrive in AI-enabled roles. Whether teaching management, entrepreneurship, or marketing, this session equips educators to frame AI not just as a tech trend, but as a powerful lens for understanding business innovation.
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ATE Project Talks: Cell and Immunotherapy and Faculty-Industry Engagement
Webinar
April 3 ,
Talk 1: Cell and Immunotherapy
Speaker: Guy Hamilton, PhD, University of Washington, WA
ATE project: Cell and Immunotherapy Hub
Talk 2: Faculty-Industry Engagement
Speakers: Terri Quenzer, PhD, MiraCosta College, CA and Project PI, Dominique Ingato
ATE project: Building Strategic Faculty-Industry Engagement to Advance BioScience Workforce Development
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AMTEC Institute for I4.0 Innovation Community of Practice: From Classroom to Manufacturing Lab
Webinar
April 7
Curious how mobile manufacturing labs and Industry 4.0 credentials can bring advanced manufacturing concepts to life for students? In this Community of Practice session, the Lakeshore College team will showcase a mobile manufacturing lab and share how their Industry 4.0–aligned credentials support hands-on learning and workforce readiness. Participants will also gain practical tips and classroom strategies for integrating Industry 4.0 concepts into existing courses and labs. Leave with fresh ideas and inspiration to enhance manufacturing instruction across secondary and postsecondary programs. Also, you will not want to miss a special announcement regarding the Student Smartforce Summit hosted at the International Manufacturing Technology Show this September!
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Mentor-Connect Webinar: Preparing Forms for your NSF ATE Proposal
Webinar
April 8
Forms can make up 2/3 of a final proposal submission and impact the quality and accuracy of a proposal. This webinar will provide an overview of proposal forms that need to be completed, share information about how to navigate and do this work in Research.gov, and highlight specifics about completing each required form.
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Northland Expo 2026 - East Grand Forks Campus
Student Event
April 9 East Grand Forks, MN
This event give students 10-12 grade to explore real career paths, hands-on workshops, and experience what college feels like. Northland Expo gives potential students a preview of what's ahead and what is possible.
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Michigan Mass Timber Community of Practice
Webinar
April 9
Hosted by MassTimber@MSU, WoodWorks, and American Wood Council, this quarterly, virtual gathering will enable those who are engaged in mass timber projects and initiatives across Michigan to access technical assistance and peer learning in a supportive and confidential environment.
Dr. Mojgan Nejad, MSU Department of Forestry will present about her lab’s innovation in lignin-based adhesives, coatings, and foams and pathways to commercializing these biodegradable, lower-carbon options in mass timber products.
Who should join? Designers, engineers, developers, building owners, construction managers, installers, code officials, forest products producers, and more—all actively involved in mass timber projects in Michigan.
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AURI’s Blended Approach to Catalyzing Innovation
Webinar
April 9
AURI catalyzes innovation, blending commercialization support from applied research and business development know-how to advance new ideas utilizing agricultural feedstocks to the market. Through its business and technical expertise, physical infrastructure consisting of laboratories, pilot space, and equipment, AURI is a trusted partner for farmers, small to medium-sized businesses, corporations, cooperatives, and entrepreneurs to propel their ideas to the next level.
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Competitions At EFx Dallas 2026
Student Event
April 10 Dallas, TX
Go beyond the classroom or laboratory and put engineering design principles to the test by applying them in ASME Student Competitions! This year's EFx Dallas will host: ASME e-Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (e-HPVC)
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AACC 2026
Conference
April 10 Seattle, WA
Since 1920, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has been the go-to organization for the nation’s predominately associate degree-granting regionally accredited institutions. The association hosts one of the largest convenings of community college professionals and offers engaging speakers, relevant professional development, and unsurpassed networking opportunities. AACC Annual provides access to the nation’s community college leaders who collectively serve more than 40 percent of the nation’s undergraduates.
AACC Annual creates opportunities to design and solve today’s priority challenges and to identify opportunities and innovation to support the country’s community college students.
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Bio Career Prep Series: Negotiating for What You Need
Student Event
April 10 Online
Join Fridays from 11 AM to 1 PM PT (1-3 PM CT/2-4 PM ET) for the 2026 free interactive Bioscience Career Preparation Series. Learn how about your power in the interview process, the important skills needed for workplace success that may not be taught in classrooms, and then get a chance to speed network with bioscience industry professionals!
Series: Fridays, February 13th - April 24th
Topic: Workplace Navigation: Negotiating for What You Need
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Coding with Agentic AI: A Tour of Claude Code
Webinar
April 10
In this live session, Adam Richardson will present on agentic AI capabilities, demonstrate the practical applications of Claude Code, and walk through some possible classroom integrations. Attendees will see Claude Code in action while learning core principles of AI-assisted development, and they will explore strategies for incorporating these tools into coursework without sacrificing academic rigor. The session will conclude with discussion time for concerns and ideas about how agentic AI tools may impact student development and continue to transform the IT industry.
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KidWind - Marine & Hydropower 101
Workshop
April 11 Online
Join this this marine and hydropower virtual workshop to explore the science of water based power!
During this virtual workshop, educators will learn the foundations of water power including the science and technology of hydropower turbines. Presenters will also introduce activities for the classroom that engage students in dynamic, hands-on energy-based learning.
Registration closes March 28th so you receive materials prior to the workshop.
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Northland Expo 2026 - Thief River Falls Campus
Student Event
April 14 Thief River Falls, MN
The Northland EXPO connects employers with students in grades 10–12 from across Northwest Minnesota and Northeast North Dakota—students who are actively exploring career paths and making decisions about their future education and workforce goals.
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ATE Projects and Centers
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies topics include:
- Additive manufacturing
- Automotive manufacturing
- General manufacturing
Agricultural and Environmental Technologies topics include:
- Agriculture and aquaculture
- Environmental technologies
- Natural resources
- Nuclear power
- Solar energy
- Wind power
Bio and Chemical Technologies topics include:
- Biotechnology
- Chemical and process technologies
Engineering Technologies topics include:
- Electronics and controls
- General engineering
- Marine technologies
- Materials technologies
- Optics
- Space technologies
General Advanced Technological Education topics include:
- Evaluation
- Learning research
- Recruitment
- Teacher preparation
Information and Security Technologies topics include:
- Geospatial technologies
- Information and communications technologies
- Logistics
- Security, information assurance, and forensics
Micro and Nanotechnologies topics include:
- MEMS
- Microsystems
- Semiconductors
This 219-page textbook, created for the ELCT 241: Introduction to Industrial Automation course at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, covers concepts related to motors and sensors found in an industrial environment. The course familiarizes students with industrial automation through the study of motors and censors, equipping students with "the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the automated workplace of tomorrow." Also included are review questions for various sections. The textbook consists of the following parts:
- Fundamentals of Sensors
- Load Sensors and Pressure Sensing Technologies
- Temperature, Flow Control, and Vision Sensors
- DC [direct current] Motors
- Stepper Motors
- AC [alternating current] Motors
Upon completing this course students should be able to do the following:
- Implement and manage automated systems
- Analyze data and optimize processes
- Troubleshoot and maintain automated equipment
- Communicate affectively within an automated work environment
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In this lab, from National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, students will study nanoparticles, specifically dilutions of gold and silver. Students will study brine shrimp and explore "...the effects of exposing living organisms to different nanoparticles at various concentrations." There is a twenty-one page teacher's preparatory guide, containing: lists of equipment and materials needed, activity procedure, and student guide with answer key. The student guide is also available as a separate PDF document.
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This resource, published by Portland Community College, is the first issue of the third volume of J ATE. J ATE is a peer-reviewed technical journal focused on community college faculty and staff who work with technician education. This journal is cross-disciplinary and encompasses all technologies under the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program. Some of these technologies include: Micro Nano, Biotechnology, Autonomous Technology, Cyber Security, Advanced Manufacturing, Earth Sciences, Agriculture Technology, Energy, and Welding. Some topics that cross cut across all disciplines of technician education are also covered. Those topics include: Evaluation, Mentoring, Undergraduate Research, and Applied Technician Research.
The issue spans 167 pages and focuses on community college faculty work and research. Included are 17 full articles and a guest letter from Kalyn Owens, ATE program director. Listed below is each article and corresponding DOI...
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This course, published by InnovATEBIO, provides "an introduction to the field of biotechnology, including applications of biotechnology in molecular biology, biochemistry, research, bioethics, and laboratory safe practices in a regulated environment." The course features four units with various sub-modules, covering basic biotechnology lab skills such as "solution preparation, safe handling of hazardous material, nucleic acid isolation, recombinant DNA cloning, PCR [polymerase chain reaction], and ELISA [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay]." Included are exams, self-study quizzes, a course syllabus, lecture slides, lab manuals, student worksheets, instructional videos, and more.
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This video from the Internet Scout Research Group is part of a series that highlights student success stories related to advanced technological education (ATE) programs. In this video, Elias Marcet discusses his experiences with the Bachelor's program in cybersecurity at Miami Dade College. Elias describes his journey to fully enrolling in Miami Dade, joining the cybersecurity programming, and eventually being employed by Amazon. Funding for the program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is also explored.
The video runs 5:44 minutes in length.
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| Active ATE Centers | 15 |
| Active ATE Projects | 282 |
| ATE Resources | 7,064 |
| New Projects/Centers | 62 |
| New Resources | 94 |
ATE Resources by Subject Area
ATE Events by Subject Area
Upcoming Webinar: Higher Education Survey of College and University Presidents
Inside Higher Ed is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 14, at 2:00 PM EST, featuring a panel of experts who will discuss key trends and challenges in higher education. Topics will include:
- Emerging and evolving educational models
- The impact of federal policies on higher education
- Higher education’s role in shaping conversations regarding AI
- Issues that are expected to have the greatest impact on higher education by 2030
This webinar builds on insights from a recent Inside Higher Ed survey, which found that many college and university leaders are struggling to manage financial and political pressures while striving to invest in innovation and remain relevant in the rapidly changing landscape of higher education.
To learn more about this event or to register, visit the “Under Pressure: What’s Keeping Presidents Up at Night in 2026” registration page.
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Upcoming Event: AACC Annual Conference
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Annual Conference offers relevant professional development and networking opportunities for community college faculty and staff. The event provides access to the nation’s community college leaders, who will discuss a variety of topics pertinent to educational access, leadership development, priority challenges, and navigating AI.
The AACC Annual conference will take place April 10-14, 2026, in Seattle, Washington.
For more information or to register, visit AACC Annual
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New Community College Grant Program Included in the House Farm Bill
An article released by the American Association of Community Colleges(AACC) highlights key policy changes regarding funding for agricultural workforce training. The Food, Farm, and National Security Act was advanced by the House Agriculture Committee in early March, which controls legislation for programs run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Agriculture Improvement Act had expired in 2023, but has now been revitalized by the Farm bill.
In the Farm Bill, competitive grants for community colleges, technical education schools, and consortia of community colleges are included, specifically for agriculture and natural resources programs. Grants will be prioritized for schools that provide work-based learning in these fields.
To read more about this exciting advancement for agricultural workforce training, visit “Washington Watch: House Farm Bill includes new community college grant program.”
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