Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) has been awarded a $20,000 grant to develop an orthotics and prosthetics technician program at the college.
BCTC was selected by the American Association of Community Colleges MentorLinks: Advancing Technological Education program to be part of the 2019-2021 cohort. Supported by the National Science Foundation, the MentorLinks program helps colleges to develop or strengthen technician training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
“There are only six orthotics and prosthetics technician programs currently in the country,” said Laura Lynch, assistant dean of skilled trades and the principal investigator for the grant. “The program we are developing will prepare students for the rapidly growing and changing field. Traditional fabrication skills will be taught in conjunction with new advanced manufacturing and printing techniques.” It would be the first program of its type in Kentucky.
A key part of this project is its mentoring aspect, Lynch said. A MentorLinks mentor team will work with BCTC faculty to provide expertise they have learned while developing similar programs. A professional consultant from Rio Salado College has been assigned to assist BCTC faculty in curriculum development and resource development.
