FLORENCE — Florence-Darlington Technical College Education Foundation has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation, the philanthropy arm of AT&T, to support the implementation of the Technology Gateway Challenge: Enabling Engineering Technology Success program at the college. The program will be renamed the AT&T Technology Gateway Challenge in recognition of this alliance.
Florence-Darlington Tech is implementing the challenge curriculum to address three major issues facing the college, students and the business community: the high poverty rate, coupled with the some of the lowest educational attainment rates in the Southeast; the lack of enough skilled technicians to meet the needs of area industries; and the low pass rate in pre-curricular courses for engineering technology majors.
“A highly skilled workforce is a catalyst for economic development; new industries look for a robust workforce in making decisions on where to locate their facilities,” Florence-Darlington Tech President Dr. Charles Gould said in a press release issued by the college. “Programs such as the AT&T Technology Gateway Challenge enable us to remain on the forefront of training and to create the workforce that industry needs.”
The overall goal of the challenge is to increase the number and diversity of students prepared to be successful in engineering technology programs. A 75-percent pass rate of pre-curriculum engineering technology students is the targeted goal.
All engineering technology students who test into remediation will be eligible for the program. Special emphasis will be placed on recruiting women and minorities.
“I strongly believe training and education are imperative to improving the quality of life for those who live in the Pee Dee,” state Sen. Hugh K, Leatherman of Florence said in the release. “There is a high demand for skilled technicians, and even in the midst of a challenging economy, engineering technicians are highly sought after and highly paid. AT&T’s investment in this worthwhile program will pay dividends for many generations.”
“In today’s challenging economy it is more critical than ever before that American students are skilled, knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running when they graduate,” Buddy Bateman, AT&T South Carolina’s regional director of external affairs, said in the release. “This alliance with Florence-Darlington Technical College reinforces our commitment to make South Carolina a better place to live and expand opportunities for people to transform their lives.”
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