2024 NCATC President's Message

Q1, 2024

NCATC Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to my first President's Message for NCATC. It is my pleasure to provide a brief message as part of my role as this year’s president of the NCATC Board of Directors. The Board is constantly discussing strategies on how we can create more opportunities and return on your investment as we serve you, our member institutions. If you know of any colleagues at your institution, faculty and staff at other institutions, or strategic partners that could benefit from finding out more about NCATC, the Board and I are always available to discuss new ideas, answer questions, and provide an overview of the organization. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

NCATC Pillar Four 

Each newsletter and subsequent drop-in session focuses on one of the four NCATC Pillars. The pillar being covered in this edition is Pillar 4: Access, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (ADEIB). I’m certain some of you are in states that have recently enacted legislation taking a stance on utilizing public funds for Pillar 4-related activities. However, aligning Pillar 4 with the workforce demands of industry is paramount to the success of American business and commerce. As our definition of Pillar 4 explains, “NCATC supports the expansion and enhancement of innovative and accelerated advanced technology educational pathways for adults that integrate career technical and adult education.” With a focus on advanced technology, we are amongst industry’s closest allies in assisting with talent and training. We are also the conduit that many community organizations recognize as change agents for pathways to education and training for the underserved and underrepresented. The member organizations of NCATC must continue to be champions to have conversations with our community organizations and manufacturers on alternative pathways and offerings. We must provide opportunities for underrepresented students to understand career and education tracks in advanced technology and manufacturing fields. Whether your state has adopted ADEIB or not, this is not easy work, and it is usually a big lift. But together we can explore, learn, and implement some great options and programs.

Did you know? Our data show that many of our institutions have registered only one person to receive communication and updates from NCATC. There’s no cost to add others, so expanding your institution’s value received from NCATC is easy and free.    

Scott Lucas

2024 NCATC President