Roane State awarded grant to develop specialized welding courses

 

Roane State Community College received a $25,000 grant to develop classes in lightweight metal welding, a skill set needed by automotive manufacturers.

The grant from the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology will be used to develop four courses: aluminum welding, robotic welding, non-destructive testing, and metallurgy. Grant funds will pay for costs related to course development, supplies, and outreach materials.

Markus Pomper, dean of Roane State’s Mathematics and Sciences Division, said the course material will have applications in the automotive industry and for work at the Uranium Processing Facility under development in Oak Ridge.

“Automotive manufacturers are using light metals, such as aluminum, in their designs in order to increase their vehicles’ fuel efficiency,” Pomper said. “The lightweight metal welding courses will train the workforce for the lightweight auto manufacturing. In addition, we anticipate that the planned Uranium Processing Facility will require welders who can weld exotic metals and also test their work.”

The welding courses will be offered at the college’s Oak Ridge campus beginning in January 2017. Pomper said Roane State will collaborate with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Harriman, which will offer an introductory welding course.

“The intent of the courses is to provide additional training opportunities for welders that have been trained to weld carbon and stainless steel,” Pomper said.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology is one of just 40 Advanced Technological Education Centers in the United States and is located on Macomb Community College’s South Campus in Michigan.

Roane State is a two-year college providing transfer programs, career-preparation programs, and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has campuses in Crossville, Harriman, Huntsville, Jamestown, Knoxville, LaFollette, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge, and Wartburg.

For more information, visit roanestate.edu or call 1-866-GO2-RSCC (1-866-462-7722).

This press release was submitted by Owen Driskill of Roane State Community College.

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