TCAT-Stanton prepared for Fall semester

The 120,000-square-foot building that houses Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Stanton at the BlueOval City site in Haywood County is gearing up for its fall semester.

Although Ford Motor Company announced a delayed production of its electric truck line that will be assembled at the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center, TCAT-Stanton is still primed to help fulfill training for the entire West Tennessee region.

“While Ford was definitely the impetus for the new TCAT location, it was designed to do what it was always intended to do, which is serve the region,” Richard Locker, communications director for the Tennessee Board of Regents, announced last week.

The Tennessee Board of Regents comprises all two-year public institutions in the state, which includes all TCAT campuses. TCAT-Stanton is under the direction of TCAT Jackson.

Classes open Sept. 9 and prospective students may enroll until that date.

Ford’s partner battery plant, BlueOval SK, is on track to begin production next year. The battery plant will produce cells starting in late 2025 for Ford’s new electric commercial van to be built at Ford’s Ohio Assembly Plant. Those same cells will be sourced to later power the next-generation electric truck to be assembled at BlueOval City and future emerging-technology electrified vehicles.

Between Ford Motor Company and BlueOval SK, there’s an estimated 6,000 jobs that will be created as part of the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center. The 21st-Century applied technology campus is offering certification courses for “in-demand” programs, such as welding and automotive technology, Locker noted.

In addition, the Stanton campus also houses general education classrooms for Dyersburg State Community College students. Locker explained the eight general-academic classes are targeted to adults who are looking to take evening classes that will transfer to a four-year university.

The building offers 12 stand-alone classrooms, 6 classrooms attached to high-bay technology labs, a large workforce training simulation space, meeting and multi-purpose student areas and a Veterans’ Services area. 

Specific certifications offered at TCAT-Stanton include Industrial Maintenance Integration Automation, with an estimated time of completion approximately 16 months.

According to tcatjackson.edu, students gain the skills necessary to become technicians and to advance in the field of machine and equipment troubleshooting and repair. Instruction consists of both classroom and practical application work involving machine shop, electricity, mechanical power transmission, hydraulics, pneumatics, and programmable logic controllers. Industrial maintenance work is characterized by variety because each equipment repair job presents a different problem requiring the knowledge to diagnose and repair. These technicians are responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining the electronic equipment in manufacturing environments such as PLCs, Robotics, and Human Machine Interfaces. 

Another certificate offered on the campus is Electric Vehicle Production Technology, estimated at 8 months in length.

The Electric Vehicle Production Technology program is designed as a pathway for students to be prepared for careers in electric vehicle production facilities. This program meets the electric vehicle manufacturers' entry-level production technician needs.

Students who enroll at the parent TCAT campus in Jackson can spend 16 months earning certification in Automotive Technology. The Automotive Technology program provides students with a thorough understanding of servicing and repairing automotive vehicles. The program is accredited by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and taught by an ASE-certified Master Technician. Automotive students should have a valid driver’s license.

The site is also home to an Advanced Emergency Medical Training (AEMT) program, with classes set to begin Sept. 10.

Financial aid is available for all high school students through Pell grants and the Tennessee Promise scholarship. Non-traditional students can also attend TCAT programs through the Tennessee ReConnect scholarship. Contact your nearest TCAT for more information about financial aid and courses. Contact TCAT Jackson at 731-424-0691 to enroll in a course for the upcoming semester.

Sabrina Bates, sabrina@richardsonmediagroup.net