Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC)

Our region, state and nation are experiencing an urgent need for skilled, trained technicians across several technology-based industries. Thousands of these jobs are opening—but there are not enough trained workers to replace those retiring.

To help bridge the gap, Hudson Valley Community College plans to build a brand new, state-of-the-art workforce training center: the Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC).

ATEC: A Workforce Training Center

Project Background: Addressing a Critical Need

Currently, the college houses several programs that prepare graduates for careers in in-demand industries: for example, building systems, automotive and transportation technology, renewable energy, and semiconductor manufacturing, to name a few.

However, many of our programs are currently filled to capacity, with more students waiting to be admitted than the college can accommodate. ATEC, a new facility filled with modern equipment, the newest machine tools and the latest technology, is the key to allowing Hudson Valley to increase enrollment, launch new programs and train the next generation of workers who will power these essential industries.

There are millions of unfilled skilled trades and technology-related jobs across the nation, with the gap widening each year. In New York State alone, the rate of job growth in the skilled trades continues to top 17 percent, with nearly 25,000 skilled trade jobs opening up annually; but due to labor shortages, many of them continue to go unfilled. Meanwhile, Baby Boomers, many with skilled labor jobs, will continue to reach retirement age at the rapid rate of nearly 10,000 per day between now and 2030. And by next year, nearly half of all job openings in these areas will be “middle-skill” jobs that require education beyond high school, but not a bachelor’s degree.

The Capital Region and New York State are facing a severe hiring shortage and rapidly rising demand for:

Electricians
HVAC Technicians
Mechatronics Technicians
Plumbers and Pipefitters
Welders and Welding Fabricators
Electric and Autonomous Vehicle Technicians
And more

ATEC will allow Hudson Valley to expand current programs and create new ones that address these areas of need, and train a skilled technical workforce for the new economy.

Project Goals & Objectives

Once complete, ATEC will allow Hudson Valley to:

Increase the number of students enrolled in skilled trades programs by 200 percent.
Train up to 5,000 new skilled technicians over the next decade, to support our workforce in the areas they are needed most.
Expand current programs in areas like Electric and Autonomous Vehicles and Welding and Fabrication to support emerging industries.
Establish new programs that focus on areas of key demand.
Expand fast-track workforce training courses for those already employed in key industries by offering advanced, industry-validated certifications and skill- and competency-based non-credit workforce training programs and bootcamps.
Become a magnet for manufacturers and other technical companies around the region and the Northeast seeking a highly skilled workforce and use of industry resources.
Fill the skilled trades industry’s skills gap, meet workforce demand, and help grow the region’s economy.
Provide the model for other centers for applied technologies at SUNY institutions statewide.

State-of-the-Art Programs & Labs

ATEC will serve as a training hub for the following academic programs:

Automotive Management AAS
Automotive Technical Services AOS
Automotive Technical Services - Autobody Repair AOS
Clean Energy Management AAS
Electric and Autonomous Vehicles AOS
Electrical Construction and Maintenance AOS
Electrical Engineering Technology - Electronics AAS
Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Technical Services AOS
Mechanical Engineering Technology AAS
Mechatronics AAS
Overhead Electric Line Worker Certificate
Welding and Fabrication Technology AOS

The new facility will also offer students, faculty and workforce partners new, cutting-edge labs, including:

Pipefitting & Welding Lab
Robotics Control Lab
Electric Vehicle Lab
Industrial Process Control Lab
Smart Technologies Lab

                ATEC: Addressing a Critical Need
              
                    Addressing the urgent workforce demand by training the skilled trades and applied technologies workforce of tomorrow.

Watch ATEC: Addressing a Critical Need on Vimeo.com

ATEC Campaign

To make ATEC a reality, public sector and private industry investment is crucial. The Hudson Valley Community College Foundation has established an ATEC campaign committee, comprised of industry partners and longtime faculty, with the goal of raising $85 million for the construction and equipment required to create ATEC.

Make a Gift to Support ATEC