Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Programs And Partnerships topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
New College Institute spotlights partnerships, testing accreditation and robotics as it expands community programs
Summary
Executive Director Joe Sommer told the board the center secured an AI-enabled pilot with GenEdge, gained National College Testing Association accreditation for its King Hall Testing Center, expanded K–12 STEM programming for hundreds of students and will host regional robotics contests.
Executive Director Joe Sommer used the June 4 board meeting to outline program growth and partnerships at the New College Institute, describing an AI‑assisted manufacturing pilot, accreditation at the testing center, expanded law‑enforcement training and new K–12 and robotics programming.
Sommer said GenEdge partnered with the center to install an AI‑supplemented monitoring system on a High Bay industrial machine. GenEdge covered materials and compensated the center for machine use; the company is using the pilot27s data for a roadshow and listed the center as a key partner in its Virginia smart‑manufacturing accelerator.
On accreditation, Sommer announced the King Hall Testing Center received National College Testing Association approval and said the center will begin launching testing services in July. He highlighted workforce and training programs, including an upcoming graduation and ongoing professional development with the Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy (training cohorts of roughly 20–60 participants and an upcoming graduation on June 13), and described planned hybrid animal‑control officer training.
Sommer outlined substantial K–12 engagement: June events with Henry County schools will host elementary and middle school students for Virginia 250 and STEM/robotics rotations (roughly 450 students across two events) and the center operates year‑round internships that have produced local hires.
He also described the center27s robotics pipeline, including plans to host the Blue Ridge Brawl off‑season competition for up to 24 teams in October and the center27s invitation to a 26‑hour national off‑season event in West Virginia later this summer. The board encouraged staff to share event dates and invite members to participate.
Board members asked for clearer metrics and more readable slides for board use; the executive director said staff will provide infographics and a trifold summary to support outreach and community engagements.
