Advanced Manufacturing Education
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Tackle the Gap
Train for a high-paying skilled trade while you compete in intercollegiate athletics!
tacklethegap.org
YOU CAN TRAIN FOR A HIGH PAYING SKILLED TRADE WHILE YOU COMPETE IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS!
​There are hundreds of two year trade schools, junior and community colleges, all across the country, that provide training for high paying and in demand skilled trades, as well as, compete in multiple sports. The trades are not "dark, dirty and dangerous" like in generations past. They are clean, modern and high tech. There are projected to be over 3 Million unfilled openings in the skilled trades by 2028. Not only are these jobs in high demand in your hometown, but you will have skills that transfer anywhere in America and beyond.
THE NEXT, NEXT LEVEL
Competing in intercollegiate athletics at a two-year school will enable you to improve your skills, gain strength and accumulate film for 4-year university coaches. Everyone on the roster is a freshman or sophomore, so you don't have to compete with upperclassmen for playing time. You will have the opportunity to improve your academics to meet the entrance and eligibility requirements of a 4-year school while earning an Associate's degree or certification in an high paying and in demand skill.
Learn about many of the trades by visiting their website!
"Formerly known as Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (or NBT), SparkForce is the charitable foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association. While their name has changed, the mission has not. FMA's purpose is to inspire, attract, and support individuals in discovering an interest in manufacturing and to encourage their pursuit of a manufacturing career."
The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education provides global-best workforce development through strong technical training, integration of manufacturing core competencies, intensive professional practices and intentional hands-on experience to build the future of the modern manufacturing industry.
FAME was created by Toyota and moved to the Manufacturing Institute for national scaling in 2019. Today, the Manufacturing Institute, as the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, is proud to manage FAME USA as it continues to grow across the country with the support of more than 450 manufacturers.
I GOT IT MADE
"Connecticut’s Office of Manufacturing creates a strong partnership between the State’s resources and the manufacturing sector. Together, we spark innovation, expand our reach, and give more people the opportunity to make a life out of making."
Access the Connecticut Office of Manufacturing look book by clicking the image on the left.
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The Mechanical and Manufacturing Technologies for Energy and Sustainability (MET² ) Program better prepares community college and college or university mechanical manufacturing engineering and technology students with technical, social, professional, and entrepreneurial skills required to meet today’s workforce demands.
MET² Program provides genuine, real-world challenges or problems to fuel projects explored by self-managed
Program Teams of students. Program Teams are inter-institutional, interdisciplinary, and self-managed to capitalize on the synergy between the theoretical knowledge of university students and faculty (Partner
universities in Connecticut), complemented by the requisite hands-on technical skills of community college students and faculty (Connecticut State Community College). Program Teams will meet and conduct research culminating in a professional-level final report and presentation.
Applications for the 2026 MET2 Cohort are now open.
All Required Application Materials must be submitted no later than Friday, December 5th, 2025, to ensure consideration.
Admission to the MET² Program is based on various criteria, with all factors in the applicant's background considered.
The MET² Program welcomes your application and inquiries.
For further assistance, please contact,
John Birch, Executive Director MET²
College of Technology Seamless Pathways
You can design your education to match your interests, abilities, and ambitions. COT faculty and staff are available to help you find the right road to your future success. Many options are offered through the COT.
These programs also provide a seamless pathway for community college students to continue their studies as juniors in engineering, engineering technology, or industrial technology programs at partnership universities/colleges.
How to start your path?
Enroll in a COT Program
The COT offers a specialized curriculum allowing students to complete an A.S. degree in Technology Studies or Engineering Science at Connecticut State Community College.
Connecticut's community colleges are affordable, flexible, and geographically convenient for students statewide. They offer programs to prepare students for careers in high-growth fields, such as precision machining, welding, and mechatronics. Students enroll in these programs through the Connecticut State Community College application process.
The Engineering Science A.S. degree will provide students with the first two years of a typical engineering degree focusing on engineering theory and calculus. Students who complete the A.S. degree can transfer to a COT partner university to complete designated Engineering B.S. degrees.
The Technology Studies pathway has certificates and A.S. degree options that allow students to learn the knowledge and skills within a specific high-demand technology field. The Technology Studies curriculum is very hands-on and includes opportunities for internships and apprenticeships. Upon completing a Technology Studies A.S. degree, students can transfer to Central, Eastern, and Southern Connecticut State Universities or the University of Hartford to complete designated B.S. degrees.
Technology Studies A.S. degree options and credit certifications include:
Work with Your Advisor and COT Site Coordinator Faculty Member
As you work through your degree, stay in contact with your advisor to ensure you are following the COT program. Deviation from the required curriculum may result in loss of credits upon transfer or added to time complete your A.S. degree. Each community college has a designated College of Technology Site Coordinator knowledgeable about COT requirements and transfer options. Site Coordinators will also guide you as to which electives will satisfy transfer requirements for a specific university.
Complete your A.S. degree and apply for transfer
In order to be eligible for seamless transfer to a partner university, you must complete the A.S. degree and graduate from CT State Community College. Transferring before completing the A.S. degree may result in a loss of credits or added time to complete the degree.
Complete your B.S. degree at a COT partner university
Once enrolled in your transfer university, an advisor there will help you map out the rest of your degree.