Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) recently visited Warren County Middle School, all with the hopes of connecting with the next generation of the workforce and sparking an interest in the college’s programs.

TCAT brought its mobile classroom to the school just before spring break. The trailer it outfitted as a mobile classroom and demonstrates the wide variety of programs the technical school has to offer. Part of its efforts to increase outreach, the classroom is often taken to schools and school events, career and college fairs, fairs and open house events.

By equipping the mobile classroom with trainers, the goal is to increase outreach to students in Warren, Coffee, Cannon, Grundy and Van Buren counties. In the past year, TCAT reports it has held special industry training with DTC, Ben Lomand, Great Lake Cheese and others with 44 students enrolled in the classes.

More recently, TCAT has been asked to provide special industry training in building construction and general maintenance for White County Housing Authority and surrounding counties.

TCAT’s programs can have students trained and in the workforce in as little as two months in some cases, but some require up to 20 months. In an effort to work with students from all phases of life, the college offers a variety of class formats to appeal to those whose schedules are better suited for part-time or full-time learning, and some classes have evening hours as well.

The McMinnville campus currently offers:

• Automotive Technology — 14 months, full-time day classes

• Building Construction Technology — 12 months, full-time day classes

• Computer Information Technology — 20 months, full-time day and evening classes

• Cosmetology — 14 months, full-time day and evening classes

• Cosmetology Instructor Training — 10 weeks, full-time day and evening classes

• Industrial Maintenance — 16 months, full-time day and evening classes

• Machine Tool Technology — 16 months, full-time day classes

• Massage Therapy — 8 months, full-time day classes

• Practical Nursing — 12 months, full-time traditional day classes

• Reflexology — 12 months, part-time day classes

• Residential, Commercial, Industrial Electricity — 16 months, full-time day and evening classes

• Truck Driving — 2 month, full-time day classes

• Welding Technology — 12 months, full-time day and evening classes

The above roster will be joined by an Advanced Manufacturing Technician course which is expected to arrive fall of this year.

“We are so excited to be able to display our programs at various events, and other outreach opportunities in our service area,” TCAT External Relations Daniel Bratcher said. “We have been able to reach a substantial number of prospective students over the last two weeks, thanks to the Mobile Trailer. In the first week of March alone, we were able to reach 2055 participants at eight schools in four counties over six days, and hope to reach many more in the years to come.”

Current trainers available in the TCAT mobile unit include automotive technology, building construction technology, computer information technology, cosmetology, residential, commercial and industrial electricity, industrial maintenance, machine tool practical nursing, welding technology and licensed practical nursing.

TCAT has multiple campuses, but the local McMinnville branch is located at 241 Vo Tech Drive. The office can be reached at (931) 474-8324.