FDTC Awarded $474,296 from NSF to Integrate Technology Programs

Florence-Darlington Tech (FDTC) has received a $474,296 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. government’s independent science agency.

“We are sincerely grateful to receive this NSF Award and for the opportunity it provides to advance technician training at our college,” FDTC Interim President Dr. Debbie Cheek said. “Our dedicated faculty have developed an innovative approach to training that has the potential to shape future curriculum not only at Florence-Darlington Tech, but beyond our campus as well. This award reflects our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and providing students with the skills they need to succeed.” 

A key focus of the grant will be the integration of several robotic technologies from Mechatronics into CNC courses within the Machine Tool Technology (MTT) program. Students will gain hands-on experience using robotics alongside CNC machining, helping them understand how automated systems, robotic material handling, and CNC equipment work together in modern advanced manufacturing environments.

The project will allow FDTC faculty to develop and test new instructional approaches that better connect mechatronics, robotics, automation, and CNC machining, preparing students with the cross-disciplinary technical skills increasingly needed by advanced manufacturing employers.

“This grant gives us the opportunity to modernize our curriculum by bringing Mechatronics, robotics, and automation directly into our CNC courses,” FDTC Department Chair of Industrial and Engineering Technology Dr. Marvin Gainey said. “Manufacturing is changing, and our goal is to make sure our students are prepared not only for the jobs of today, but for the advanced manufacturing careers of tomorrow.”

This project will continue to teach foundational skills in Mechatronics and Machine Tool, while integrating key components of each program to provide a more comprehensive, in-demand education and skill set for students.

The project will provide the following:

Project Focus

• Modernize the curriculum by integrating key Mechatronics, robotics, and automation concepts into Machine Tool Technology (MTT) CNC courses.
• Prepare students with cross-disciplinary skills needed to work with CNC, robotics, and automated manufacturing systems.
• Engage industry partners in curriculum development, student recruitment, retention, hands-on workshops, and job placement.
• Expand high school and Career Center outreach to introduce students to advanced manufacturing careers.
• Provide students with real-world industry exposure through facility visits, industry days, demonstrations, and technician-focused videos.

FDTC faculty began preparing the grant proposal in 2025 with mentoring and technical support from Mentor-Connect, which provides mentoring and technical resources to help two-year college faculty write competitive grant proposals. Mentor-Connect is an ATE project led by Florence-Darlington Tech in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges.

“Mentor-Connect was a valuable resource for us as we prepared our grant proposal,” Gainey said. “They paired us with a mentor who knew the subject of our project and understood why we needed funds to implement it.”

Gainey added that the Mentor-Connect community was there every step of the way to answer questions, read drafts, and encourage them when the process seemed overwhelming.

“We are very glad that we applied and were accepted into the 2025-2026 Mentor-Connect cohort,” he said.

The grant is funded by the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) within the NSF Directorate for STEM Education under award #2554707.