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.

NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference

Conference

December 8 Nashville, TN

The NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference is the premier event for K-12th grade cybersecurity educators. In its 11th year, the NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference has gathered the most dynamic and innovative cybersecurity education leaders and professionals from across the US for an intensive, highly collaborative exploration to promote the discovery of cybersecurity careers and multiple pathways, identify methods to transform learning and much more. 

The NICE K12 Conference is known to cybersecurity-related educators and educational stakeholders as the best place to engage with the thought leaders and pioneers leading the charge in classrooms, schools, districts, and regional and statewide cybersecurity education programs. The NICE K12 Conference is the national hub for providing resources in innovative teaching and learning for K12 educators to inspire their students to be the future cybersecurity workforce.


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Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Educators

Workshop

December 8 Godfrey, IL

This workshop empowers university, community college, and high school faculty, staff, counselors, and academic advisors with the knowledge and tools to effectively integrate AI into their teaching practices and curriculum development. Participants will explore practical applications of AI, including lesson planning, designing engaging and interactive content, creating dynamic assessments, and customizing individualized student learning experiences. Additionally, the workshop will highlight how to enable students to use AI in ethical and productive ways across various disciplines.

Through hands-on activities, collaborative projects, and real-world examples, faculty will gain a deeper understanding of AI’s transformative role in education. They will also explore new forms of student engagement, ensuring responsible AI use in both teaching and learning environments. This workshop prepares educators to harness AI to enhance classroom instruction, streamline administrative tasks, and equip students with the skills needed to navigate an AI-driven future.

This workshop also includes a 4-hour virtual session on December 12.


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ACTE CareerTech VISION

Conference

December 9 Nashville, TN

ACTE's CareerTech VISION is the must-attend event for career and technical education (CTE) professionals. Happening Dec. 9-12 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, VISION offers comprehensive programming covering high-quality CTE in secondary and postsecondary environments and emerging trends in the field to help career and technical educators thrive in their careers. VISION provides attendees with a rich array of networking opportunities, an Expo, hundreds of concurrent program sessions, and numerous networking opportunities.


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Keeping Your PEACE: Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation's Virtual Learning Series

Webinar

December 9

December doesn’t have to mean burnout. Join for a refreshing 60-minute virtual session to reflect, recharge, and learn how to keep your PEACE through the busiest season of the year. 

These webinars are FREE for Women in Manufacturing members and only $35 for nonmembers, making them accessible and valuable for all professionals.


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Community Capabilities Webinar | AVN: Supporting Bio-Based Chemical Process Technology Development

Webinar

December 9

Hear from Jack Dever, Chief Technology Officer at AVN, who will introduce AVN’s capabilities for process development and talk through their process, including work they have done to develop a technology package for converting glucose to a commodity chemical. 


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Community Conversations: Reflecting on 2025 – Lessons Learned

Meeting

December 16 Online

In this community conversation, ATE PIs, project evaluators, and staff will reflect on the lessons learned throughout 2025 and discuss how these insights can be applied to enhance evaluation practices moving forward.


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Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences

Conference

January 6 Lahaina, HI

Since 1968, the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) has been known worldwide as the longest-standing working scientific conferences in Information Technology Management. HICSS provides a highly interactive working environment for top scholars from academia and the industry from over 60 countries to exchange ideas in various areas of information, computer, and system sciences. According to Microsoft Academic, HICSS ranks the 36th in terms of citations among 4,444 conferences in all fields worldwide.


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Scouting America Badging Day

Student Event

January 10 Thief River Falls, MN

Scouting America Merit Badge Day will be held at Northland Community & Technical College. Scouts will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of engaging classes, including Aviation, First Aid, Welding, Law Enforcement, and Citizenship in the Nation. This event is designed to give Scouts hands-on learning experiences while working toward their merit badges.


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KidWind - Wind Energy 101

Workshop

January 10 Online

Join for this wind-focused, three-hour virtual workshop to explore the science of wind power!

During this virtual workshop, educators will learn the foundations of wind power including the science and technology of wind turbines and blade design. Presenters will also introduce activities for the classroom that engage students in dynamic, hands-on energy-based learning.

Registration closes December 27th so you receive materials prior to the workshop.


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Generative AI and Microsoft Copilot Training for Community College Faculty and Staff: 101

Webinar

January 15

This session is designed for community college faculty and staff exploring the fundamentals of Generative AI and Microsoft Copilot. Topics include Generative AI and responsible AI use, effective prompting techniques, and real-world applications in education. This session will provide practical insights and hands-on guidance to help integrate AI tools into your work.


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Google's Generative AI Leader Training and Certification

Meeting

January 16 Online

Become one of the first go-to resources and thought leaders in Generative AI Leadership, enhancing your visibility and influence within the organization. This no-cost opportunity, funded by Google Cloud’s Career Launchpad, and in collaboration with NAAIC, will prepare community college faculty for the Google Cloud Generative AI Leader certification.

The training will cover:
- Fundamentals of Gen AI
- Google Cloud's Gen AI offerings
- Techniques to improve Gen AI model output
- Gen AI business strategies

Training sessions
Session 1: January 16, 2026, 10 to 4:30 PM EST, online  
Session 2: January 23, 2026, 10 to 4:30 PM EST, online
Office hours (optional): January 30, 2:30 to 4 PM EST, online
Certification exam deadline: January 31, 2026


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SPIE Photonics West 2026

Conference

January 19 Online

SPIE Photonics West is the premier event for lasers, biomedical optics, optoelectronics, and technologies supporting biophotonic, quantum, and vision applications. 

View the lineup of outstanding plenary speakers from around the globe. Select advanced training from 60 course options. Discuss your product requirements with top optics and photonics suppliers at any of the five exhibitions throughout the week, and participate in the strong industry program – this year now on three stages! 


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Generative AI and Microsoft Copilot for Community College Faculty: 102

Webinar

January 20

This follow-up webinar is designed for faculty looking to integrate Generative AI and Microsoft Copilot into their curriculum. We'll start with a brief review of Copilot Chat, then explore practical strategies for incorporating AI-driven tools into lesson plans. We'll also examine real-world use cases from various disciplines.


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ATE Projects and Centers





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Advanced Manufacturing Technologies topics include:

  • Additive manufacturing
  • Automotive manufacturing
  • General manufacturing
Ag/Env

Agricultural and Environmental Technologies topics include:

  • Agriculture and aquaculture
  • Environmental technologies
  • Natural resources
  • Nuclear power
  • Solar energy
  • Wind power
Bio/Chem

Bio and Chemical Technologies topics include:

  • Biotechnology
  • Chemical and process technologies
Eng

Engineering Technologies topics include:

  • Electronics and controls
  • General engineering
  • Marine technologies
  • Materials technologies
  • Optics
  • Space technologies
Gen

General Advanced Technological Education topics include:

  • Evaluation
  • Learning research
  • Recruitment
  • Teacher preparation
Info

Information and Security Technologies topics include:

  • Geospatial technologies
  • Information and communications technologies
  • Logistics
  • Security, information assurance, and forensics
Nano

Micro and Nanotechnologies topics include:

  • MEMS
  • Microsystems
  • Semiconductors
 

This 17-page article, provided by Indian River State College, presents the results of a quantum industry survey on the skills and competencies necessary in a quantum technician workforce, followed by recommendations for quantum technician curricula based on the survey results. The article provides an overview of the quantum industry in the United States and an analysis of current quantum education programs, highlighting the insufficient technical training in quantum technologies to meet the projected need for a quantum technician workforce. Additionally, the article discusses the EdQuantum project, which aims to create a curriculum in quantum technologies for technicians.


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This lab, presented by the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, uses silver nanoplates as a tool to explore the relationship between shape and optical properties. Students will be able to compare material properties and behaviors at both the nano- and macroscale through the exercise, as well as experience with scale and unit conversion. A 'Teacher's Preparatory Guide' is included, featuring needed materials, detailed procedural instructions, and additional resources. A 'Student Guide' includes detailed, step-by-step instructions, space for recording data, and analysis questions.


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This resource, published by Portland Community College, is the second 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 218 pages and highlights articles written by students based on their undergraduate research. Included are 21 full articles and a guest letter from Olivia Long, program director for the Division of Undergraduate...


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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, Seethal Meda discusses her experiences with Montgomdery Community College's biotechnology and biomanufacturing program. Seethal describes her experience reentering the workforce after a 15 year break, overcoming anxiety around taking classes in a different country, and presenting her internship project at the ATE conference in Washington DC. Funding for the program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is also explored.

The video runs 5:56 minutes in length.


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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, Sam Martinich discusses his experiences with Central Wyoming College's geospatial information systems and technologies (GIST) program. Topics covered include Sam's career path and journey to Central Wyoming College, the impact of the program on his life, and his work collecting climate data. Funding for the program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is also explored.

The video runs 5:38 minutes in length.


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Active ATE Centers 15
Active ATE Projects 291
ATE Resources 6,957
New Projects/Centers 62
New Resources 62

ATE Resources by Subject Area

ATE Events by Subject Area

 
Image of increased tuition trends across the U.S.

New Research: Increasing Cost of Community College Education


A new College Board report shows that the average published tuition and fees for in-district, full-time students at public two-year colleges in 2025–2026 reached $4,150, an increase of $110 from last year. State-level prices varied widely, from $1,440 in California to $8,900 in Vermont, and only nine states saw no change or increases of less than 1%.

To learn more about trends in college tuition and financial aid, read the full report from College Board.


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Image of a woman at the computer doing AI training

Upcoming Virtual Event: Google's Generative AI Leader Training and Certification


Supported by Google Cloud's Career Launchpad in collaboration with the National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC), the free virtual event, "Google's Generative AI Leader Training and Certification," will be held on January 16 and 23, 2026. Sessions will cover the fundamental principles of artificial intelligence (AI), current AI offerings, strategies to improve the output of generative models, and relevant AI-informed business strategies. Completion of the training program will prepare community college faculty for the Google Cloud Generative AI Leader Certification.

Virtual Training Sessions

  • Session 1: January 16, 2026, 10:00AM to 4:30 PM EST
  • Session 2: January 23, 2026, 10:00AM to 4:30 PM EST
  • Office hours (optional): January 30, 2026, 2:30PM to 4 PM EST

To learn more or to apply for the training program, visit the NAAIC website.


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image of the Community College Journal cover with books and coffee on a desk

New Issue: Community College Journal


The October/November issue of the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Community College Journal is now available online and in print through subscription. A featured publication by AACC, this journal provides contemporary information, insights, strategies, and connections for those in academia, industry, government, and workforce development.

The latest issue highlights:

  • Trends surrounding community college-awarded bachelor's degrees.
  • Succession strategies for future community college leaders.
  • Impact of the 2012 "Reclaiming the American Dream" report from the 21-Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges.

AACC's October/November publication of the Community College Journal can be accessed online here, and archived issues can be viewed in AACC’s library.


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