Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC)

Our region, state and nation are experiencing an urgent need for skilled, trained technicians in applied technologies and skilled trades. As Baby Boomers retire, thousands of these jobs are opening—but there are not enough trained workers to replace them.

To help bridge the gap, Hudson Valley Community College is building a brand new, state-of-the-art Applied Technology Education Center (ATEC)!

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

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Project Background: Addressing a Critical Need

Currently, the college houses several programs that prepare graduates for in-demand careers as mechatronics technicians, plumbers and pipefitters, welders and welding fabricators, electricians, (commercial and residential), heating, ventilation and cooling/refrigeration (HVAC-R) technicians (commercial and residential), and automotive technicians, to name just a few. However, many of these programs are currently filled to capacity, with more students waiting to get in than the college can accommodate with existing facilities.

That’s why a new facility, filled with modern equipment, the newest machine tools and the latest technology, is absolutely necessary to allow Hudson Valley to increase enrollment, launch new programs and train the next generation of workers who will power this essential industry.

New York State is experiencing a severe skilled labor shortage. Right now, there are 17 million unfilled skilled trades and technology-related jobs in New York State.

We are not alone in this crisis: 3.4 million skilled technical jobs are projected to be unfilled throughout the nation by the end of this year.

Baby Boomers, many with skilled labor jobs, are retiring at the rapid rate of nearly 10,000 per day between now and 2030.

By 2024, nearly half of all job openings 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
Hacking and Cybersecurity Specialists
Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Experts

ATEC will allow Hudson Valley to expand current programs and create new ones that address each of these areas of need.

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 upward of 5,000 new skilled technicians over the next decade, to support our workforce in the areas they are needed most.
Expand current programs in Hacking and Cybersecurity, Electric and Autonomous Vehicles and Welding and Fabrication.
Establish new programs that focus on areas of key demand and on emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics, Heavy Equipment, and Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology.
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
Hacking and Cybersecurity AS
Heating/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Technical Services AOS
Mechanical Engineering Technology AAS
Mechatronics AAS
Overhead Electric Line Worker Certificate
Welding and Fabrication Technology AOS

Additionally, the following new programs are planned to be housed in ATEC:

Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics AAS
Plumbing & Pipefitting 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

Energy Efficient Design

ATEC will be constructed as a zero net energy building, resulting in a zero-carbon facility. The facility’s design will revolve around sustainability and energy efficiency, and will incorporate real-world training opportunities, allowing students to learn energy efficiency through hands-on practical experiences, including:

Photovoltaics
Heat pumps
Geothermal and building envelope technologies

ATEC’s eco-friendly construction will help forge the path toward the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s mandate for a carbon-neutral New York State economy by 2050.

Capital Campaign

To make ATEC a reality, public sector and private industry investment is crucial. In early 2022, the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation established a capital campaign committee comprised of industry partners and longtime faculty and set out to raise $75 million for construction and equipment.