Release courtesy of Gloucester County:
The Gloucester County Vocational Technical School/Special Services School District (GCIT/SSSD) was awarded funding from the Secure Our Children’s Bond Act grant, announced the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners.
The Gloucester County Vocational Technical School/Special Services School District received $12 million to enhance career and technical education in Gloucester County’s vocational-technical school district as well as sharing collaborative space with Rowan College of South Jersey and Rowan University.
The grant allows construction on a new educational and technical training center on the campus of Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ). The center will house 120 to 150 full time students from grades nine through twelve during the day and will be the home of the newly introduced Academy of Applied Technology and Advanced Manufacturing. In the evening, the school will transition over for college education and programming.
The Secure Our Children’s Future Bond Act allocates $500 million in state bonds to expand county vocational-technical programs, county college and technical education programs, enhance K-12 school security and repair contaminated school drinking water systems.
“The Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act allows GCIT/SSSD to invest in the programs that our students need,” Commissioner Director Robert M. Damminger said. “We will always strive to provide our students with high-quality, career relevant academic programs that will set them up for success in their future careers. The addition of the Academy of Applied Technology and Advanced Manufacturing gives students exactly that by exposing them to a broad range of educational experiences.”
“These grants to our local counties are an investment in the future of our State,” Senate President Steve Sweeney said. “The funding is a direct investment into the schools and for the future of our students.
“The funds will expand programs, improve the safety and health of our students and ensure career readiness,” he continued. “I look forward to seeing the impact that the Save Our Children’s Future Bond Act and the Academy of Applied Technology and Advanced Manufacturing will have on our students.”
The Academy of Applied Technology and Advanced Manufacturing will allow students to engage in course work that will expose them to emerging technologies and advanced manufacturing processes. Students who enter this program will acquire the skills necessary for employment in a wide variety of occupations.
Students housed on the main Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) campus will have the opportunity to receive additional technical training on a shared-time basis through the district’s Collegiate High School experience and Work and Learn Consortium in partnership with RCSJ.
“The new center will continue our partnership with GCIT/SSSD, RCSJ and Rowan University. By working together, we will keep education affordable and relevant to our future job markets,” Commissioner Lyman Barnes said. “This will be another unique opportunity for both GCIT/SSSD and RCSJ students to share space and learning opportunities in state-of-the-art facilities.
Students enrolled in the current Academy of Engineering, Academy of Allied Health and Medical Sciences, Academy of Information Technology/Digital Communications and the School of Construction Technology will have exposure to the program.
Students at the Academy of Allied Health and Medical Sciences will be exposed to high school and college level coursework, hands-on training and will attain industry-based credentials and certifications.
For more information, please visit www.gloucestercountynj.gov or www.gcit.org.
