NSF Funding History
Our Mission
To design, create and strengthen partnerships between the educational community and private industry as well as promote the necessary training required to address the need for more highly skilled workers in the current manufacturing environment.
Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (RCNGM)
The Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing was funded by National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Advanced Manufacturing Technological Education Program (ATE) from 2004 - 2021. The RCNGM the developed resources for both students and educators interested in exploring career opportunities advanced manufacturing. Through the Connecticut College of Technology, the Center developed:
Industry-driven courses in next generation manufacturing
Online courses that include diverse methods of teaching
Career outreach materials that support the recruitment and retention of students in manufacturing centers
Courses that bridge two-year engineering technology programs with traditional four-year engineering programs
Longitudinal studies that identify promising practices and assess students' performance in the workplace and employer satisfaction with graduates
Teacher externships in cutting-edge, next generation manufacturing companies
RCNGM Goals
Student Recruitment & Persistence
Design and implement engaging activities to improve student experiences and increase student recruitment, and persistence, with special emphasis on women and historically underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.
Pathways & Articulation
Strengthen and expand education to career pathways, articulations between two-yaer colleges, from secondary schools, and to four-year institutions, and instructional collaboration between strategic partners.
Professional Development
Improve the knowledge base of two-year and secondary institution faculty and teachers in emerging science, engineering, and technologies and provide opportunities for development of relevant skills sets.
Curriculum Development
Using competencies identified by educators and industry representatives, develop and implement responsive curriculum pathways verified by industry and higher education to meet advanced manufacturing workforce needs and increase regional student accessibility.
Regional Collaboration
Disseminate proven practices to and support New England regional partner institutions in marketing, articulation, and industry-education collaboration efforts, in advanced manufacturing areas.
RCNGM History
The Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing resulted from the success of the Connecticut College of Technology (COT), a virtual college program connecting engineering and technical training among Connecticut's 12 community colleges. The RCNGM created a seamless pathway for students transitioning from a two-year program/college to a four-year program at partnering colleges and universities including Central Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, the University of Hartford, University of Connecticut, Fairfield University, University of New Haven, University of Bridgeport, Sacred Heart University, and Charter Oak State College
The RCNGM also developed articulation agreements with the state's technical high schools, to seamlessly allow students in Connecticut's technical high schools to transition to any one of Connecticut's community colleges.
The RCNGM collaborated with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) in developing outreach campaigns, curriculum, and professional development opportunities for educators. This collaboration supported the pipeline from the technical high schools to the community colleges carrying on the mission of helping to better prepare the next generation manufacturing workforce to fit the demands of business and industry.
College of Technology (COT)
COT provides career pathways for students to earn certificates, Associates and Bachelors degrees in Engineering and Technology disciplines. COT reduces barriers to education by providing a seamless articulation between the community colleges and the four-year partner universities. In addition, the COT uniquely integrates all of the aforementioned college and universities systems through offering multiple points of entry for completion of degrees.