Chattanooga & Cleveland states land Mechatronics grants

NASHVILLE (WDEF) – Chattanooga State and Cleveland State win grants to train students in mechatronics.

Mechatronics is a blend of mechanical, electrical and computerized technologies forming a complex system.

The colleges offer Associate of Applied Science degrees in mechatronics.

Students are taught a blend of precision engineering, control theory, computer science, math and sensory tech.

Chattanooga State and Cleveland state each get $250,000 grants to help students earn their two year degrees.

The money will help students pay for tuition, fees, and books for students until their Tennessee Promise or Hope Scholarships come through.

“Students graduating from a Middle College Mechatronics program have a college degree and the opportunity for a challenging career position – at the age of 18,” said Dr. Robert Denn, the College System’s associate vice chancellor for K-12 initiatives.

“Expansion of Middle College Mechatronics programs will also enable Tennessee to tell major advanced manufacturing and technology-heavy corporations that we produce hundreds of highly-skilled mechatronics graduates each year who are ready to join their team,” Denn said.

“This appropriation grew out of legislation sponsored by Sen. Todd Gardenhire and Rep. John Forgety. We’re grateful to them and to members of the General Assembly and Governor Haslam for adding the funding in the state budget,” said Dr. Kimberly McCormick, the system’s vice chancellor for external affairs. “Students and their families, and Tennessee industry, will benefit for years to come.”