Atlantic Cape Community College Receives National Funding, Resources to Expand on Drone Technology Program

This summer, Atlantic Cape Community College received two prestigious grants that will turn it into a resource and lead institution for drone technology in the tri-state area. Few community colleges are awarded such accolades.

In July 2018, Atlantic Cape was awarded a grant of $224,761 from the National Science Foundation for the college’s “Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations and Maintenance Education and Training Project.” This grant’s term is from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021 and will provide funding for advance technician training in the rapidly evolving field of small commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as “drones.”

Additionally, through a grant, Atlantic Cape was chosen as a consortium member for the Region 2 University Transportation Center by the U.S. Department of Transportation, with the lead university being Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), part of the Rutgers School of Engineering. Atlantic Cape is the only community college listed in the Region 2 consortium, which comprises New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each center is a consortium of two- and four-year colleges and universities that come together to form a unique center of transportation excellence on a specific research topic. Together, they advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through education, solutions-oriented research and technology transfer, and the exploration and sharing of cutting-edge ideas and approaches.

Through these grant-funded initiatives, students will be able to access and explore drone technology as it translates to many high-demand careers ranging from entrepreneurism to agriculture to technician repair.

“These grants allow Atlantic Cape to expand on its already developed drone programs, as well as create more advanced career training options for South Jersey residents and beyond,” said Jim Taggart, professor of information systems and aviation studies at Atlantic Cape.

The college’s Cape May Court House Campus will be where most UAS courses are held, as Cape May County is a peninsula and its airspace is one that has been identified by the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center as an ideal place to conduct drone instruction and activities.

For more information, contact the College Relations Department at 609-343-4907.