Southern Awarded $3 Million Grant for New Applied Technology Programs
News
Southern Adventist University has been awarded a $3 million Strengthening Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop new workforce-focused opportunities through its Applied Technology program, housed within Southern’s School of Engineering and Physics.
The five-year grant will support Southern’s Accelerating Career and Workforce Readiness in Applied Technology project, including the development of two new non-degree certificate programs in welding and mechatronics. Current project timelines call for the welding certificate program to begin in fall 2027 and the mechatronics certificate program in fall 2028.
More than $1.2 million of the grant funding is designated for new equipment, and more than $1.4 million will support staffing needed to establish and operate the programs.
The short-term certificate programs are intended to prepare students for employment in high-demand technical fields, expand connections with workforce partners, and strengthen pathways for low-income and first-generation students. The concept builds on previous university strategic planning and an extensive review of institutional data, student input, labor market information, workforce trends, and other research.
The project is designed to expand Southern’s ability to prepare students with practical technical skills while responding to workforce needs in the region.
The views and opinions of campus guests do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Southern Adventist University. An individual's or group's invitation to speak or present on campus should not be regarded as a university endorsement of their philosophies and beliefs.
