CARCAM – Consortium for Alabama Regional Center for Automotive Manufacturing

CARCAM Prepares Students for Wide Array of Careers

CARCAM’s advanced manufacturing partnerships unite educators and employers to develop highly skilled technicians. In 2014, more than 600 students earned certificates or degrees in CARCAM programs. These credentials position graduates to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing and industrial research.

CARCAM’s partnership with the Alabama Automotive Manufacturing Association provided 239 scholarships to date totaling $358,500. Before graduating from the electronics engineering technology program at Gadsden State Community College in 2015, Corey Edwards echoed other scholarship recipients when he said, “I am glad that I am a part of the program, and I think it is a really good fit for me.”

CARCAM Delivers Innovative Workforce Solutions

CARCAM and its partner colleges continually work with industry leaders to develop and redesign workforce education for evolving technologies.

Today’s workforce environment requires that associates have technological skills as well as excellent communication skills, workplace ethics, and problemsolving abilities. CARCAM recognized this multi-faceted need and in collaboration with the Alabama State Department of Postsecondary Education developed an industry-vetted curriculum that addresses it. CARCAM colleges’ utilization of dual enrollment, stackable credentials, and credit for prior learning adds flexibility to CARCAM’s certificate and degree programs.

CARCAM has also responded to a survey finding that 81% of employers feel additional industrial experience would make students more employable. It works with industry partners to facilitate cooperative, internship, and apprentice programs that help students launch highly successful careers. The relationships
CARCAM-affiliated colleges had with 56 companies in 2014-15 provided 188 students with work-study opportunities designed to improve their employment prospects.

CARCAM’s faculty professional development programs are similarly outcomes-based. For instance, the general industry-related safety program CARCAM provided to 44 instructors in 2014 was quickly followed by 275 students earning industry-recognized stackable safety credentials.