CTC receives $1.56 million NSF grant
 The National Science Foundation recently awarded a $1.56 million grant to Collin College to enhance the work of the Convergence Technology Center (CTC) and address the region’s growing need for convergence technology specialists.
This three-year grant is the fourth Advanced Technology Education grant awarded to Collin College in the past 10 years and will emphasize convergence/green information technology. The CTC, housed at Collin College and founded in 2004, is a partnership between the college, the University of North Texas and El Centro College of the Dallas County Community College District. Together, the partners will collaborate to develop green IT curriculum, create online courses, provide professional development for faculty, recruit underserved populations including Hispanic students and disseminate the program’s work to 18 community colleges around the country in addition to the 12 colleges Collin College is already mentoring.
Collin College is recognized as a national leader in the field of convergence technology, defined as the installation, maintenance and operation of voice, video and data over a secure network. The grant partners are guided by a convergence business council comprised of industry leaders interested in developing a workforce for these high-demand occupations.
Green IT is a natural outgrowth of the convergence field and was recommended by the business council. Students who have completed certificates and degrees in Collin College’s program have secured jobs with local companies, used their education to help in job promotions and have transferred to universities to complete four-year degrees. UNT has an articulation agreement with Collin College for convergence students to transfer to the Bachelor of Arts degree in information technology. Credits previously earned in convergence technology are applied as a field of specialty.
The green IT focus of the new grant will help students understand how energy consumption and the carbon footprint affect business solutions. Along with learning “green” concepts, students will learn how to create the best “green” solution to a business problem.
One of 33 NSF Centers, Collin College’s Convergence Technology Center serves as a national clearinghouse for convergence technology educational materials and training.
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