Clark State awarded grant to expand robotics, welding programs

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“Clark State’s engagement in the RAPIDS program will help improve Ohio’s workforce development capacity, strengthen business and industry partnerships and train Ohio’s workers for the jobs they will encounter in our 21st century economy,” Randy Gardner, chancellor of the ODHE, said in an award letter to Clark State.

This grant will focus on welding robotics and 3D metal printing, and the college will buy two Motoman welding robot cells to integrate into the current Robotics certificate.

“Students who complete the program will seek employment as engineering managers, industrial machinery mechanics, industrial production managers, manufacturing production technicians and mechanical engineering technicians,” said Nora Hatem, associate professor for Engineering Technologies at Clark State.

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The skills that graduates will gain include evaluate industrial robotic welding systems, create and troubleshoot program for industrial robotic welding applications, develop a preventative maintenance plan, and troubleshoot a malfunctioning robot.

Clark State was also awarded $93,131 in 2018 from RAPIDS to strengthen the CyberSecurity/Information Assurance, Manufacturing and Physical Therapist Assistant programs.

“Clark State continues to be laser focused on the needs of industry and our region,” said Aimee Belanger-Haas, dean of business and applied technologies for Clark State. “We look forward to having our students being trained on the latest trends in industry.”