Chronology
The National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) program supports the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center of Excellence. FLATE began as a Center for Manufacturing Education from ideas that grew from collaborations with industry and college partners over thirty years ago. Today, the Center is part of the NIST MEP network and uses resources from NSF-ATE, FloridaMakes, and the Florida Department of Education to intensify its focus on technician preparation to manufacturing in Florida. This table shares some of FLATE’s history and milestones.
| 2021 | |
| FLATE awarded $10,000 from AmericaWorks (MEP) for LIMS I 4.0 edge computing applications | |
| FLATE awarded $950,000 from National Science Foundation for I4.0 impact on ET degree | |
| FLATE presents at Department of Defense supported MIT MassBridge symposium | |
| FLATE presents at DOD funded MIT MassBridege project review | |
| 2020 | |
| FLATE shares online resources and strategies for COVID driven adjusted learning | |
| FLATE becomes part of FloridaMakes and the NIST MEP Network | |
| Enrollment in A.S. Engineering Technology degree exceeds 2,000 students statewide | |
| FLATE receives $600,000 grant from Fl. Dept. Ed, for CTE curriculum & student outreach | |
| 2019 | |
| FLATE receives FCPN Best Practice Awards for MFG DAY Outreach and Recruiting Girls | |
| Dr. Barger invited to Plenary Panel at SWE National Conference focused on Equity & Inclusion | |
| FLATE awarded $100,000 for work with USF PathTech LISTEN NSF ATE Award | |
| FLATE in National Academy of Science: “Professional Societies & Engineering Education” panel | |
| FLATE hosts 7th professional development workshop with FACTE teacher support (2014-19) | |
| FLATE hosts it 60th summer robotics & engineering camp at HCC-Brandon | |
| Florida Job Growth Grants awarded to 4 colleges supporting ET and manufacturing programs | |
| Valencia College opens a new downtown Manufacturing Training Center | |
| FLATE publishes/posts its 125th issue of the FLATE Focus Newsletter | |
| 23th Florida College adopts the A.S. ET Degree | |
| FLATE, the ET Forum & Industry review & update all FLDOE ET Curriculum Frameworks | |
| FLATE, the ET Forum & Industry develop new ET Specialization for Supply Chain Automation | |
| 2018 | |
| FLATE awarded $320,000 NSF supplemental funds for work with FloridaMakes & FL RMAs | |
| Ernie Friend, FLATE partner at FSCJ named HITEC Educator of the Year | |
| Manufacturing Month in Florida takes over 5,000 students on MFG DAY tours | |
| Florida Job Growth Grants awarded to 13 colleges supporting ET and manufacturing programs | |
| FLATE invited to NSF ATE Caucus focused on Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work | |
| FLATE & HCC awarded $10,000 from Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation for Camps | |
| 2017 | |
| FLATE releases “FLATE IMPACTS” Video | |
| FLATE awarded $236,000 NSF supplemental funding for HS MSSC Certifications training | |
| Engineering Technology Degree Program exceeds 2,000 students | |
| FLATE & HCC awarded $10,000 from Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation for 2019 Camps | |
| 2016 | |
| FLATE publishes Florida alignment standards to NIMS and AWS credentials. | |
| FLATE awarded $331,000 NSF supplemental funding for work with MSSC & FloridaMakes | |
| Dr. Gilbert receives Outstanding Achievement in Bioelectric International Award | |
| Dr. Barger joins the National Academy’s Engineering Professional Societies Workgroup | |
| FLATE’s Florida Manufacturing Month takes over 4,800 students on MFG DAY tours | |
| FLATE releases Women in Manufacturing DVD and curriculum package | |
| 2015 | |
| FLATE awarded $50,000 supplement to start work with Manufacturing USA Institutes | |
| FLATE awarded $2,500 for girls’ robotics camp scholarships for the 2nd year in a row | |
| FLATE presents at the National Academy’s “Pathways for Middle Skills Jobs” Workshop | |
| FLATE receives $25,000 for outreach & alignments from Hillsborough County Mfg. Alliance | |
| FLATE visits US Embassy and Slovenian Vocational Education leaders in Ljubljana (invited) | |
| FLATE recognized as High School/High Tech Partner of the Year by Able Trust | |
| FLATE awarded $100,000 for work with USF PathTech LIFE NSF ATE Award | |
| FLATE invited to the White House as part of Tampa Bay STEM Ecosystem Kickoff | |
| FLATE receives a 2nd year’s grant award of $1,500 from Nuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs | |
| 2014 | |
| FLATE signs MOU with Basque government to provide FL internships for students | |
| FLATE & ATE Centers awarded $900,000 to provide technical assistance to TAACCCT grants | |
| FLATE awarded $88,000 from Florida Department of Energy and the Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC) for continued workforce education in energy | |
| FLATE receives $2,500 grant from Nuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs for a manufacturing and entrepreneurship camp program for youth | |
| 2012-2013 | |
| 2013 | NSF releases a new Science Nation video spotlighting FLATE and the ET program |
| 2013 | FLATE awarded $460,000 for NSF ATE dissemination and outreach activities |
| 2013 | The League for Innovation in the Community College presents FLATE with an Innovation of the Year Award for Teaching and Learning (for the ET Degree) |
| 2013 | FLATE receives a Best Practice Award to FLATE FOCUS Newsletter for ePublishing |
| 2013 | Gov. Rick Scott recognizes FLATE’s leadership in MFG DAY proclamation |
| 2012 | FLATE completes $240,000 equipment upgrades to A.S E.T college laboratories |
| 2012 | NSF-ATE awards HCC unprecedented 3rd round of full center funding for FLATE |
| 2012 | U.S Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis recognizes FLATE’s foundational role in the $15M Florida TRADE Manufacturing grant |
| 2010-2011 | |
| 2011 | STEMFlorida awards FLATE a Best Practice in Educational Outreach |
| 2011 | National Association of Manufacturers invites Dr. Barger as an expert in peer-to-peer leadership model for integrating MSSC standards to academic programs |
| 2011 | FLATE awarded $100,000 in partnership with USF’s PathTech Tampa Bay NSF ATE award |
| 2010 | FLATE invited to participate in the Private College and Public University Policy Committee of the Florida House of Representatives secessions |
| 2010 | FLATE awarded $176,000 for joint NSF ATE Centers dissemination activities |
| 2010 | FL Association of Community Colleges honors FLATE with an Exemplary Practice Award for “Unified Statewide Approach to Meet the Needs of FL Hi-Tech Industry” |
| 2010 | FLATE launches new “Made in Florida” website (www.madeinflorida.org) |
| 2007-2009 | |
| 2009 | FLATE (Dr. Barger, PI & Executive Director) invited to be a member of the National Association of Manufacturers Education Council |
| 2008 | FLATE awarded $2,700,000 continuation funding from NSF to expand its work and projects |
| 2008 | Florida Legislature mandates funding for FLATE as Florida Energy System Consortium (FSEC) State College System workforce development partner |
| 2008 | FLATE awarded supplemental funding of $118,000 from NSF to coordinate joint ATE Centers dissemination activities |
| 2007 | FLATE receives $500,000 workforce partnership award from USF’s Florida Center of Excellence, Bimolecular Identification for Targeted Therapeutics (BITT) |
| 2007 | Florida Department of Education approves FLATE designed A.S. Engineering Technology Degree Frameworks with its MSSC Certificate for college credit |
| 1997 – 2006 | |
| 2006 | Workforce Florida Inc. awards Banner Center for Manufacturing to FL-ATE |
| 2006 | FLATE Curriculum Frameworks developed for A.S. Engineering Technology Degree with MSSC Certification articulated path |
| 2005 | FLATE debuts “Made in Florida” video at Mfg. Assoc. of Florida Annual Summit |
| 2004 | FLATE awarded $2,700,000 for a statewide ATE center for Manufacturing Education |
| 2004 | FLATE’s, Principal Investigator, Dr. Marilyn Barger, named Motorola Educator of the Year |
| 2002 | FLATE is awarded $70,000 to develop a plan for a Center for Manufacturing Education |
| 2002 | NSF awards USF Engineering College $500,000 project: ”High School Technology Initiative”. |
| 1999 | NSF awards Tech-4 Consortium, with USF and HCC as co-Principal Investigators, $1,000,000 project: “Tech-4 Electronic Workforce Development System” |
| 1997 | Lucent, FL High Tech Council, USF & Florida colleges form Tech 4 Ed Consortium |
