Motlow State Drives Innovation
October 28, 2024
To fuel the next generation of learners in the state of Tennessee, Motlow State’s Automation and Robotics Training Center (ARTC) in McMinnville is expanding its facilities. This new wing will house an expanded Mechatronics program and the upcoming Electric Vehicle Engineering Technology (EVET) program. Community leaders and the staff of Motlow State will assemble on November 12 to cut the ribbon and celebrate the College’s work to be part of building a sustainable future.
Nissan, General Motors, Volkswagen, Ford, and other well-known car manufacturers in Tennessee have entered the arena of electric vehicles. As technology advances and the demand for electric vehicles increases, graduates trained in this field will become more valuable. Motlow’s EVET program will help McMinnville students to meet the demand and enter a competitive field full of possibilities. This is the first step in positioning the College to be ready for the next step in automotive innovation.
According to Dr. Regina Verdin, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, “The Mechatronics and EVET wing of the ARTC will facilitate academic programs and workforce programs to provide increased opportunities for our students to learn employable skills that impact our community now and in the future. As we continue to develop programs that impact the future of technology, this facility will provide the space for students to learn and practice the technology that drives the future.”
The Associate of Applied Science in Electric Vehicle Engineering Technology is pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This is a two-year degree program that does not require graduates to pursue further education upon completion. Students who choose to pursue this field will learn subjects such as battery systems, electric propulsion, control circuits, and high-voltage safety.
The College’s successful Mechatronics program blends mechanical, electrical, fluid power, computer, and automation technology. Mechatronics can also prepare students for the automotive industry, but students can transfer the skills they learn to other industries like power production and manufacturing as well.
According to ARTC Director Larry Flatt, “In January 2010, Motlow State Community College launched the state’s first Level One Mechatronics certification program at the McMinnville Center. In August 2012, the Level Two associate degree was added as demand accelerated for admission to the program of study. During the last twelve years, as the program has grown in both students and facility, it has become more difficult to have access to adequate classroom or laboratory space. In 2021, Dr. Michael Torrence, President of Motlow College, and his staff determined that more space must be provided for the Mechatronics AAS degree program to continue to grow. From that vision, the College appropriated money from its general fund to add a wing to the Automation and Robotics Training Center. With its opening in November, we will more than double both the classroom and laboratory space available to the Mechatronics program.”
Motlow State is proud to offer this opportunity to students as part of its mission to promote student success and workforce development. Those who are interested in attending the event may reserve a spot by going to go.motlow.edu/EVRibbonCutting. To learn more about the EVET program or about the Mechatronics program, contact lflatt@mscc.edu or ereynolds@mscc.edu.