Kilgore College has received a $349,818 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant from the National Science Foundation to fund its “Reducing Barriers to IT Technician Education” (RBITTE) initiative.
The three-year grant will support efforts to increase the number of employable IT technicians in the region by addressing barriers to completion in the Computer Information Technology (CIT) program, expanding industry partnerships, implementing flexible course delivery and boosting student support.
“We are thrilled to receive our first ATE grant,” said Dr. Brenda Kays, KC president. “This project aligns with our strategic goals and addresses the needs of regional employers for skilled IT technicians.”
Dr. Ginger Dennis, the project’s principal investigator, outlined the key strategies: strengthening curriculum through expanded industry partnerships and multimodal course offerings, supporting faculty in teaching IT skills and strengthening student services – such as digital badging, certifications and employability skills development.
The RBITTE initiative will also transition the existing CIT Advisory Committee into a Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) to enhance curriculum and provide real-world projects and internships.
Local partners, including Cynergy Technology, Martin Resources and the City of Longview have committed to supporting the project. KC prepared the grant with guidance from Mentor-Connect, a program helping two-year colleges develop successful proposals for NSF funding.
