Advanced Manufacturing, Mechatronics, and Welding Training and Apprenticeships

As one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the United States, Bossier Parish Community College’s Center for Excellence in Advanced Trade Skills Program (ATSP) will transform educational delivery methods and accelerate credential attainment in the advanced manufacturing fields and advanced welding career pathways. The ATSP will serve more than 1,900 TAA-eligible workers, veterans, and other individuals in the northwest region of Louisiana through three primary strategies. Strategy 1 will develop and implement stacked and latticed credential and degree pathway for the Advanced Welding Program to supplement the Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics curriculum by using work-based learning, industry-driven competencies, and advanced technical skills. In Strategy 2, the program will build on and incorporate online technology and simulation-based software to supplement training, provide for academic remediation, maximize student access to training, and analyze the cognitive tasks associated with advanced training and technical skills. In the final strategy, Strategy 3, the program will link new degree pathways and apprenticeship opportunities with previous TAACCCT funded programs to broaden access and accelerate students’ path toward employment, further articulation, and credential attainment.