Calhoun Community College extends Application Deadline for FAME and EPIC Programs to April 30
April 7, 2020Calhoun Community College is extending the application deadline for its Alabama FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) and EPIC (Excellence in Process Industrial Controls) Programs until April 30, 2020.
The extension is to provide interested students additional time to consider applying amid the uncertainties associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The FAME and EPIC programs are ideal programs for students who have a high interest in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) field. For those who have participated in activities such as the Best Robotics Competition or Project Lead the Way, FAME would be a great option. EPIC is more suitable for those students interested in pursuing a career in the chemical manufacturing industry. Students applying to either program must test into credit-bearing math and English courses based on their ACT or Accuplacer score.
“At this time, we are still uncertain about what the future will hold for our skilled trades programs amid the coronavirus pandemic,” commented Dr. Joe Burke, Calhoun Interim President. “Although all classes have been moved to online instruction, we are optimistic that classes will return back to normal once it is deemed safe to do so by the Alabama Community College System. Our student’s health and safety is our number one priority, so we will continue to monitor updates from the Centers for Disease Control and the Alabama Department of Public Health for class planning purposes,” added Burke.
“Approximately 60 students are selected each year to be a part of these exclusive and highly competitive programs,” commented John Holley, Calhoun’s Dean of Technologies. Upon being accepted and enrolled in the program, students begin
working with their sponsor company during the summer prior to beginning coursework in the fall. Starting wages are very competitive and students have the potential to receive performance-based raises and bonuses throughout the program. While not guaranteed, there is an option for sponsor companies to hire students upon graduation. According to Terry Patterson, Calhoun’s Coordinator for Collaborative Advanced Manufacturing Programs, “Some of the sponsor companies include Asahi Kasei, Brown Precision, Bruderer Machinery, CerroWire, EFi Automotive, GE Appliances, Mazda Toyota, Packaging Corporation of America, Plasma Processes, Polaris, Remington, Shape Corp, Snap-on Tools, Sonoco, Toyota and Westrock.”
The program boasts a 100% in-field job placement rate for graduates seeking employment. Students also have the potential to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Advanced Manufacturing and two years of industry experience without any school-related debt.
Applications are still being accepted for both programs and interested students should apply online at www.calhoun.edu/fame or at www.calhoun.edu/epic until April 30, 2020, by 11:59 PM CST. For more information, contact Terry Patterson terry.patterson@calhoun.edu or at 256-306-2915.
