Snow College Program Receives National Science Foundation Mentor-Connect Initiative Funding

May 19, 2016 

Ephraim, UT – The Snow College Agricultural Department has been awarded funding from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education program funding, allowing the college to create a new Agricultural Mechanics Program. 

The program will offer two certificates and a one-year Associate of Applied Science Degree.  New courses will be created focusing on installation, maintenance, repair and integration of agricultural equipment in addition to courses on water conservation, and applying the use of drones and GPS use in agricultural productivity.  The program will also focus community relationships with local farmers and mechanics.

“The local dealers and shops are really supportive of this new program,” said Jay Olsen, Director of the Farm and Ranch Management Program. “Many of these shop owners and mechanics are going to sit on our advisory board and help us create a program and will prepare these students to be skilled and successful.”

There will also be a significant focus on a high school to college to career pathway through the program, including concurrent enrollment classes offered to high school students. Thirty-eight schools in Utah participate in the Career and Technical Education system for Utah schools, allowing high-school age students with an interest in Ag Mechanics to begin working towards their degree.

Mentor-Connect partnered with Snow College in pursuing the grant funds through the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education program, formed out of Florence-Darlington Technical College’s South Carolina Advanced Technological Education Center of Excellence (SC ATE). Founded in 1996, SC ATE is dedicated to expanding excellence in technician education and increasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of Engineering Technology graduates to support business and industry and to encourage continued economic development.