The Lead.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Marion Technical College a $601,800 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant to help local businesses, teachers, and college students learn and develop artificial intelligence programs (AI).

The three-year grant, titled “Empowering Rural Communities: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education and Workforce Development,” implements Marion Tech’s faculty members’ vision to advance AI education locally.

“AI has the ability to change the way we work and impact our effectiveness and efficiency within any organization,” said Principal Investigator Mike White, associate dean of Technical Programs at Marion Tech.

As principal investigator, White will lead the new initiative, along with Tyler Maley, Director of Arts & Science, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences, and Information Technology Faculty, Ks Ku. The group will work with local high schools and industry leaders.

Meeting Needs of Local Businesses

The college is partnering with the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce to offer classes to train community and business leaders on how to leverage tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT.

“The Marion Area Chamber of Commerce believes this grant will be a game-changer for our rural community by making artificial intelligence accessible and approachable for everyone,” said Heidi Jones, president of the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce. “By fostering a community of learning that includes educators, businesses, and local organizations, this initiative will not only shed light on AI but also equip our workforce and institutions with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven economy. This effort creates pathways for innovation, professional development, and collaboration that strengthen the foundation of our community’s future.”

Grant Supports Local Middle & High Schools

The grant funds training for local middle and high school teachers on AI and providing AI kits for their classrooms. The grant also supports a new Marion Tech faculty member who will develop an artificial intelligence certificate to prepare students for this growing field. The new faculty will also teach local companies to build custom AI tools for their needs. 

Incorporating AI into Marion Tech Curriculum

Director Maley is using the grant to develop a new applied math for AI class. Faculty Ku is working on updating the college’s IT curriculum.

“Artificial Intelligence use is growing exponentially. This grant will expand and strengthen our current STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math] educational opportunities in our region. Local businesses, educators, students, and our local community will benefit from learning more about AI and how it can be used,” Maley said.

Mentor-Connect Support Crucial for Winning Grant

White, Maley, and Ku landed the highly competitive NSF grant with mentoring and technical support from Mentor-Connect, which helps two-year college faculty write successful grant proposals. Mentor-Connect is an ATE project led by Florence-Darlington Technical College in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges.

The ATE program focuses on the education of technicians who work in high-tech fields that drive the nation’s economy. Because two-year community and technical colleges are the leading sources of technician education in the United States, faculty from these higher education institutions have had leadership roles in most ATE projects since the program began in 1993.

About Marion Tech

For more than 50 years, Marion Technical College has welcomed thousands of students and helped them achieve their next goals. From Micro-certificates to associate degrees, Marion Tech offers more than 50 programs and majors to help you get to next. Marion Tech has one of the lowest tuition rates among Ohio colleges. With zero text book costs for many classes, we can help you save money and start or advance your career. Learn more about the great return on your investment at www.mtc.edu. 

Share This