Kathleen Hohl, Communications Director
414-297-6208 (office); 414-235-7105 (cell); hohlk@matc.edu

MILWAUKEE (Sept. 19, 2011) – Milwaukee Area Technical College has received a National Science Foundation grant to form a regional partnership of technical colleges, universities, workforce investment boards, school districts and water-driven industries and businesses that will address personnel and skill needs.

The three-year, $498,216 grant is for H2Options, a program that will identify and fill gaps in Wisconsin’s burgeoning water technology businesses. This project will promote the training of new water industry technicians to meet the growing workforce demands of the water industry in southeastern Wisconsin.

“The programs developed through H2Options have the potential to have a dramatic impact in southeastern Wisconsin,” said MATC President Dr. Michael L. Burke. “We are bringing together the key local and regional players who will help pave the way for a new generation of water technology professionals.”

Dr. Kimberly Farley, associate dean in MATC’s School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is the principal investigator of the project. UW-Milwaukee, Waukesha County Technical College and the Milwaukee Water Council are among the other members of the H2Options consortium.

Associate degree and technical certificate programs will be modified and developed as part of H2Options. A pathway from high school to two-year technical colleges to four-year universities will be established to help address workforce demands in emerging and growing water technology careers.

The H2Options program identifies new articulation areas; expands knowledge of specific skills, tasks and technology needed in water technology sectors; develops networks and partnerships; and makes the expanded curriculum for the career pathways available nationally. The program also will focus on incumbent worker promotional opportunities and adult and youth career pathways that could lead to water industry employment through internship and service learning programs.

This is the third NSF grant MATC has received in the last 14 months. In 2010, the college received a $526,937 three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to increase the number of students transitioning to baccalaureate degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields through its Biochemical Excellence in Science and Technology (BEST) program. That grant could reach $945,142, pending satisfactory results in the first three years of the project. [See http://matc.edu/matc_news/2010_NSFGrant.html]

Earlier this month MATC received a $10,245 NSF grant to develop curriculum and recruit students who will pursue careers in science and technology. [See http://matc.edu/matc_news/2011_NSFGrant.html]